Moussa Diabate on how he is continuing to work hard for a bigger role for the Hornets

The Charlotte Hornets have been looking for reliable big men for a long time. In recent years, they had Mark Williams and Nick Richards as their center rotation, but they have even more promising players these days. 

After playing for the Los Angeles Clippers for the first two seasons of his career, Moussa Diabate was struggling for playing time. That changed when he joined the Hornets in 2024. Since then, he has strived to be part of the rotation.

Diabate is doing his best to be a fixture of the Hornets' rotation

Diabate has had a rough road to the NBA. While he was a promising five-star prospect from his high school and college years, he was not a big name when he joined the NBA in 2022. 

He was the 43rd overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft by the Clippers. While he showed some potential as a big man, the Clippers did not utilize his skill set. That has fully changed with the experience he has had in Charlotte.

MORE: Brandon Miller is becoming the difference maker the Hornets were searching for

After playing 17.5 minutes per game in the 2024-25 season for the Hornets across 71 games, he has averaged even more this season. In his 24.5 minutes a night this season, he is averaging 8.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, and one block per game.

"At the end of the day, my approach never changes. I come the same way with the same mindset, and I just keep on working every day. Sometimes, you will have lows and highs, but you gotta keep going," Diabate said after the Hornets' win on Saturday.

"It doesn't really change whether I was on the bench or not on the bench, it stays the same no matter what."

Diabate is one of the most likable players on the Hornets because he always works hard. That is an undeniable part of his game, which is why Charles Lee is rewarding him with minutes.

In Saturday's game against the Washington Wizards, he had a superb 11-point and 14-rebound performance. He had gaudy numbers, but it was proof that he could stand out when given the opportunity.

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