Mamadi Diakite (born 21 January 1997 in Conakry) is a Guinean professional basketball player. From a country where basketball was not very popular, he had to make his way to the United States to pursue his passion.
After a promising debut at the Blue Ridge School in Virginia, he joined the University of Virginia where he achieved his time of glory by winning the NCAA national title in 2019.
With this success, he started a professional career in the NBA despite a failed draft in 2020. Diakite then won a NBA title with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2021 during his rookie season.
Despite the difficult beginnings and numerous franchise transfers, his persistence enabled him to sign a 10-day contract with the New York Knicks in March 2024, rewarding his inspiring career as a young professional Guinean basketball player.
Introduction
Mamadi Diakite (born January 21, 1997 in Conakry, Guinea) is a professional basketball player who currently plays for the New York Knicks of the National Basketball Association. (NBA).
His journey is a true example of inspiration, perseverance and determination. From a country where basketball was not a priority, he managed to pave his way to the top of the discipline by winning an NCAA championship with the Virginia Cavaliers in 2019 and an NBA title with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2021.
Enfance et Éducation
Mamadi Diakite was born to a wealthy family in Conakry, the capital of Guinea. His father, Aboubacar Sidiki Diakite, was the country's general health inspector, while his mother, Aminata Kaba, was a reputable midwife.
Raised in the Muslim religion, Diakite grew up playing football in the streets and parks of his hometown. However, his large size and athleticism quickly attracted the attention of local coaches, who saw in him a potential for basketball.
Unfortunately, opportunities in this sport were limited in Guinea at the time. That is why Diakite decided to try his luck in the United States, where basketball is a real institution.
Through Facebook, he managed to attract the attention of Hassan Fofana, an American Guinean naturalized and former college basketball player. With his help, Diakite was integrated into the Blue Ridge School, a private school located in St. George, Virginia.
Carrer
High school career
Arrived in the United States in 2014, Diakite spoke only French. Fortunately, he was able to count on the help of Mamadi Diane, a former Guinean basketball player, to adapt to his new life. During his two years at Blue Ridge School, Diakite not only excelled on the basketball field, but also in other sports such as athletics and soccer. In fact, the school required each student to practice one sport per season.
During his last year, Diakite has displayed impressive statistics, with an average of 12 points, 8 rebounds and 4 shots per game.
Through his performance, he led his team to the state championship of Virginia in Division II of the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association (VISAA) and the championships of the Virginian Independent Conference. (VIC).
Considered one of the best prospects in the state of Virginia, Diakite has received numerous scholarship offers from renowned universities such as Baylor, USC and Washington. Finally, on August 4, 2015, he chose to join the University of Virginia.
University career
After joining the Cavaliers of Virginia, Diakite decided to take a year of redshirt (transition year without competition) to prepare physically and adapt to university life. He made his debut on November 15, 2016, scoring 8 points and 4 rebounds in a 72–32 victory against St. Francis Brooklyn.
During his second year, Diakite gradually gained importance, reaching a peak of 12 points in a victory against East Carolina on December 6, 2016. Despite a solid season, with averages of 3.8 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.2 against per game, he knew that he still needed to improve to reach his full potential.
The 2018-2019 season marked a turning point in Diakite's career. In the third game, he set a new personal record with 18 points against Coppin State. He then equalized this mark on January 9, 2019 against Boston College, adding 7 rebounds and 2 downs to his total. However, his moment of glory came at the 2019 NCAA tournament.
In the final eighth, Diakite scored a miraculous shot at the last second to send his team in prolongation against Purdue. The Cavaliers eventually won this epic match 80-75.
In the semi-final, against Auburn, Diakite contributed with 6 rebounds and 36 minutes of play, despite a bad direction to the shots (2 points seulement).
Finally, in the national final against Texas Tech, he scored 9 points and captured 7 rebounds in 25 minutes, helping his team win his first national title after a 85-77 extended victory.
To celebrate this historic triumph, Diakite decided to dye his hair in blond at the end of February 2019, a color that he retained until the conclusion of his academic career.
After this exceptional season, Diakite first enrolled in the 2019 NBA Draft before finally withdrawing his name to perform a final year at the University of Virginia.
During the last season, he broke his personal record with 21 points against South Carolina on December 22, 2019. His performance earned him a selection in the second All-ACC team (Best Players of the ACC Conference).
Professional career
Despite his undeniable talent, Diakite was not drafted in 2020. However, this did not discourage him and he quickly found a "two-way" contract with the Milwaukee Bucks on November 24, 2020. This type of contract allowed him to play in both the NBA and the G-League, the NBA's developmental league.
Diakite spent most of his first season in the G-League with Lakeland Magic, where he scored an average of 18.5 points, 10.3 rebounds, 2.1 counter and 2.1 decisive passes per game.
His performances earned him a selection in the first All-NBA G League team, the All-Defensive team, and the Rookies of the Year team. The crown of this exceptional season was the G-League championship title won with Lakeland.
Strengthened by these successes, Diakite signed a multi-year standard contract with the Bucks on April 21, 2021, after 11 appearances in the first team. He was able to enjoy a second NBA championship title from his first professional season.
Unfortunately, his adventure with the Bucks was short since he was released on September 24, 2021. Claimed a few days later by the Oklahoma City Thunder, Diakite spent only a few months in the franchise before being released again in February 2022.
On September 26, 2022, Diakite joined the Cleveland Cavaliers. Although initially released on October 15, he was quickly re-signed with a "two-way" contract. With the Cavaliers, he played 22 matches, two of them as a champion. In his first title match against MVP Joel Embiid, Diakite managed to limit the Sixers star to only 19 points, 6 rebounds and 6 decisive passes, while scoring two three-point baskets.
On October 19, 2023, Diakite signed with the New York Knicks before being released two days later. He then joined the Westchester Knicks on November 9, 2023.
On January 1, 2024, Diakite signed a "two-way" contract with the San Antonio Spurs, allowing him to play in both the NBA and G-League with Austin's team. Unfortunately, his passage to San Antonio was brief since he was released on March 2, 2024.
On March 6, 2024, Diakite returned to the Westchester Knicks. His career was finally rewarded on March 14, 2024, when he signed a 10-day contract with the New York Knicks, the team he currently plays for in the NBA.
Conclusion
The journey of Mamadi Diakite is a true source of inspiration for all young people with dreams of greatness. Born in a country where basketball was not a priority, he was able to seize the opportunities presented to him thanks to his determination and hard work.
Despite the obstacles he encountered, Diakite never lowered his arms and eventually achieved his ultimate goal of becoming a professional NBA player.
Its history is a testimony to the power of perseverance and resilience. It shows that no matter where you come from or what challenges you face, you can your dreams if you are willing to work hard and seize the opportunities that come up.
Today, Mamadi Diakite is a living example for young people in Guinea and around the world. His journey proves that nothing is impossible when you believe in yourself and are willing to give everything to your goals.
His history will undoubtedly continue to inspire future generations of successful basketball players and athletes.
