Mohamed Diawara is a 6’9 2005 born ahead out of Paris, France. Within the draft scene for a pair years now he’s an early entrant candidate for this draft cycle. A flexible defender with a measure 7’3.75 wingspan he’s a reputation our draft viewers ought to know. We carried out the interview on Might thirty first, 2025, simply previous to him heading to the states for NBA Draft exercises:
Eric Guilleminault: Hello. I’m Eric Guilleminault and I’m with Mohamed Diawara who’s a French prospect who has entered the 2025 NBA draft. Mohamed. For the draft viewers that won’t know you so effectively. Are you able to inform me just a little bit about your background and about your basketball journey to date?
Mohamed Diawara: Yeah. Okay. I’m Mohamed. I’m 20 years previous now and I began taking part in basketball at eight years previous in Paris. As a result of my, now I’m taking part in skilled three years and that’s a brand new problem for, and that, that’s it. Okay.
Eric Guilleminault: So that you stated that you simply began basketball due to your sister? Yeah. I learn just a little bit about your background that your sister was very a lot, you have been watching her in follow and that’s type of the way it acquired you began with the sport, is that appropriate?
Mohamed Diawara: Yeah, precisely. That’s the identical. I used to be at her follow when she was later and, you realize, on the finish of the follow I used to be like capturing the wall or in the course of the follow. In order that’s how I began liking basketball. Precisely.
Eric Guilleminault: Did you play different sports activities like soccer rising up earlier than basketball?
Mohamed Diawara: Yeah, for positive.
Mohamed Diawara: In Paris. I really feel like everyone performs soccer at first, so I performed for, I performed soccer for positive throughout like, I imply, throughout loads of years, you realize, after the college, in the course of the faculty, however not, probably not like within the membership. I wasn’t in a membership or, or one thing like, like that.
Eric Guilleminault: Yeah. Mm-hmm. And also you grew up in Paris.
Eric Guilleminault: Mm-hmm. And also you performed with a you began at an early age and also you performed at Saint-Charles Charenton. Yeah. Mm-hmm. Which is a big basketball membership, and it seems you have been teammates with two gamers which can be at the moment within the NBA Pacôme Dadiet. and Tidjane Salaün. How was that have rising up and to observe up? Do you continue to be in contact with these guys?
Mohamed Diawara: Yeah, for positive. I nonetheless be in contact. Like I say, that’s humorous since you requested me, I used to be in speaking with Pacôme (Dadiet) yesterday. However uh, yeah, now Tidjane (Salaün) is extra, extra arduous to have him. He’s however he’s nonetheless my man. Each of each of them are nonetheless my man. We, we nonetheless speaking to one another proper now. And yeah, as you say, I wa I used to be taking part in with them in Saint-Charles Charentons. Yeah, that was, you realize, that was a, yr. We had an awesome group and that was two of my, my, my good associates in, in that group. So, yeah. That was good.
Eric Guilleminault: Did they provide you any kind of recommendation as you undergo this draft course of?
Mohamed Diawara: Yeah, for positive. Yeah, yeah, for positive. I ask loads of query, and so they gave lots recommendation.
Eric Guilleminault: Your first, professional expertise was in your hometown Paris.
Mohamed Diawara: Mm-hmm. Yeah.
Eric Guilleminault: Professional and in addition U 21 expertise. [Yeah]. How did it really feel to place that Paris uniform on for the primary time as a professional?
Mohamed Diawara: Yeah, I imply, that was loopy. You realize, I’m from Paris, born and raised, so I imply, that was simply loopy to play e each weekend, each time in entrance of the household. In entrance of everyone, in entrance of each good friend. In order that was, I imply, that was loopy. And that was the, the, the great components of, of that, that was actually serving to me, you realize, and mentally and bodily.
Mohamed Diawara: That was, that was nice. I didn’t must, to at all times have a house as a result of my household was there, so was simpler.
Eric Guilleminault: Okay. Your, your neighborhood is the thirteenth arrondisement, appropriate?
Mohamed Diawara: Yeah. Sure, precisely.
Eric Guilleminault: Let’s go just a little bit about your, French Federation expertise.
Mohamed Diawara: Mm-hmm.
Eric Guilleminault: You gained a gold medal for the U 20 group in EuroBasket final yr. Inform me just a little bit on what you took away from that have and the way that have was total for you.
Mohamed Diawara: Um, that, I imply, that was nice. Since I’ve been 13 or 14 years previous, I’m taking part in each summer time for the French nationwide group. So it’s now like a, a routine for me. And Yeah. You realize, similar to final yr I gained , my first gold medal with them. And that was a, that was a loopy second. Yr 2025 Champion of Europe. That was, that was loopy. And , I’m by no means going to neglect it.
Eric Guilleminault: Good. Mm-hmm. You additionally then performed on the Adidas Euro camp in Treviso final yr, and also you measured very well. Six, 9 and like 9 three ish Wingspan, standing attain and stuff.
Mohamed Diawara: Mm-hmm.
Eric Guilleminault: Yeah. How was that have and how much suggestions did you obtain from scouts whereas there?
Mohamed Diawara: That was nice. That, that’s expertise. You realize, you have got , the chance to play towards loads of, of nice gamers from Europe, from the States. That was loopy.
Mohamed Diawara: And, truly as you say, uh uh, no, that was a cool, I had some actually, actually good like good outcomes for the take a look at. And, I had loads of suggestions with the scouts. That was nice. They advised me about what I want to enhance, for the subsequent season. And I feel that I did it very well.
Mohamed Diawara: And no. That was nice. That was nice.
Eric Guilleminault: What kind of recommendation, did you implement this season?
Mohamed Diawara: Mm-hmm.
Eric Guilleminault: That you possibly can tell us just a little bit the viewers that you simply assume you Yeah. You bought higher from the suggestions that you simply obtained?
Mohamed Diawara: Yeah, from the suggestions probably the most suggestions that I must be extra common to have a greater shoot
Mohamed Diawara: And I feel, we work on it this season and I feel it’s approach higher about my protection. I’ve to be a greater defender. Like what’s going to be my job within the NBA if I can get there. And, um, that, yeah, that was a lot of the, of the recommendation that they gave me. Protection and 3-point shot. And, you realize, simply bodily be higher. Work on my physique and all.
Eric Guilleminault: Now occurring the protection, since you are, once we have a look at like your movie and stuff
Mohamed Diawara: mm-hmm.
Eric Guilleminault: That’s one in every of your strengths it looks as if.
Mohamed Diawara: Mm-hmm. Yeah, for positive. The protection. Uh, for positive.
Eric Guilleminault: Whenever you’re defending, you may both, you’re on the high of the] key or like lengthy, prolonged wing defender loads of occasions.
Mm-hmm.
Eric Guilleminault: Whenever you’re defending the choose and roll, what are you searching for? Do you have got specific issues? like for those who’re on the ball, what are you searching for? Should you’re within the drop, what are you searching for? What are you taking a look at? How are you tagging folks? Like are you able to little describe that? For the draft viewers?
Mohamed Diawara: Mm-hmm. No, I imply, after I’m guarding the ball practice, I really feel like, I imply, it relies on the protection that we’re going to do with the coach, with the group. However more often than not I’m searching for the ball. I’m searching for. I do know that I’ve lengthy arms, so I do know that I can deflect different passes
I can like actually like disturb the man who, the ball. So it’s going, it’s going to be my foremost job. And after, it’s relies on once we drop, such as you say, I acquired a giant wingspan. I do know that I can catch, contact each ball and disturb the principle participant. So I feel that’s what I’m doing and I’m doing fairly effectively.
Eric Guilleminault: Sure. , The stats agree with you. Yeah.
Eric Guilleminault: This was your second yr at Cholet Professional?
Mohamed Diawara: Yeah, my, my first yr. First first
Eric Guilleminault: yr, sorry. Second yr, in Professional. What do you’re feeling you’ve improved and developed most over the course of the season?
Mohamed Diawara: I really feel like I stated, my 3-point shot, I feel he’s approach higher proper now.
And I feel my ball dealing with, I do know that I’m, I imply, I’m, I’m a giant guard for me. I really feel like I’m a giant guard. I can the ball like a guard and, that’s what I feel I’m approach higher proper now. I feel my, yeah, my, my 3 level shot passes protection. I’m approach higher. I feel I’m approach higher and, yeah, I feel it’s just about.
Eric Guilleminault: Okay. How would you describe your sport?
Mohamed Diawara: Mm-hmm. Um, I simply noticed my sport as an all-around participant. I can do every little thing on the courtroom, uh, defensive. I can go one to 5. I really feel like offensively I can play one to 5. I really feel like I’m a, I’m actually an all-around participant. I can do every little thing on the courtroom, deal with the ball, shoot the ball, defensd each place.
Eric Guilleminault: So after I watched some (current) movie I observed since I’ve watched you over the course of your profession. Mm-hmm. That it looks as if within the final 18 months you’re in a position to see, You’re passer, you’re like a degree ahead passer and stuff, however it looks as if the ball strikes faster, like your choice course of is faster.
Am I proper in that evaluation? That issues type of slowed down for you within the final 18 months or is that similar to one thing that developed over time that you simply acquired extra comfy on the professional stage?
Mohamed Diawara: Mm-hmm. No, I feel for positive, such as you say, I’m pondering I’m approach higher at it. I really feel like he, he’s like with the, with the IQ, he include the IQ, I feel it’s approach higher.
And I feel, that’s not even one thing that I work on. I feel he’s simply include the maturity to play with the professionals and beginning to perceive the sport.
Eric Guilleminault: Yeah. Good. Good. Mm-hmm. What do you’re feeling is your finest skillset? If there’s one factor, what do you assume you’re the very best at?
And the observe up with that, what’s the one factor that you simply assume contributes probably the most to successful a basketball sport that you simply do finest?
Mohamed Diawara: I feel it’s protection, for positive. For the second query, I feel it’s protection. I imply, you, you can not win video games for those who’re not defending. So I really feel like it’s making cease.
Yeah. Otherwise for positive. The one factor that it’s good to win sport and the principle factor I is my finest, like, my smartest thing to do. I might say, I feel it’s defensively. I feel, my finest model of me is defensively. I feel I strain the ball full courtroom
Mohamed Diawara: I feel is my smartest thing I do.
Eric Guilleminault: And I’ve seen you each on the wing and within the put up. Mm-hmm. Like if a smaller defender will guard you, you’ll put up them up and also you’ll again them down.
Mohamed Diawara: Yeah, positive.
Eric Guilleminault: What are you searching for once you’re beginning to again him down? Are you searching for the assistance defender? Are you, what are, what are you feeling out at the moment?
Mohamed Diawara: Uh, I imply, more often than not, you realize I’m taller than the man who going to protect me. So I do know that. I imply,, you realize, once you’re good at put up, every little thing going to scout. Make some assist. So I do know more often than not I’m going for the, I need the basket first. I need the basket first, however I do know the place the assistance goes to come back.
Mohamed Diawara: So, um, I imply like I say I’ve IQ so I do know that , the assistance going to come back. So after I flip round, I’m simply looking for the open participant as a result of I do know that if there’s two man on me, there’s for positive one man who’s going to be accessible. So I’m simply searching for that man.
Eric Guilleminault: Yeah. You’re a very keen passer. Each on the wing, swinging it round.
Mohamed Diawara: Mm-hmm.
Eric Guilleminault: And even on drives. After which like I stated, within the put up, you at all times appear to be you’re searching for that angle
Mohamed Diawara: Sure. Sure for positive
Eric Guilleminault: You simply completed your season with Cholet and also you sadly you misplaced to Bourg en Bresse.
Mm-hmm.
Eric Guilleminault: However you had an awesome sport. 14 factors 7 rebounds as a finale. What in a vacuum or to summarize do you’re taking from this season with Cholet?
Mohamed Diawara: That it was an awesome season. We did a, an awesome job. We completed first. We, I imply, we have been, we have been first the entire season, however on the finish, uh, issues, uh, com sophisticated just a little bit.
So we, however we completed like 4, 4 is a, is fairly good. We simply behind the EuroLeague groups. So I feel we, we did an awesome job and I imply, I really feel like that’s actually my first yr as like a complete professional. In order that was nice. That was nice. And If we, we might be, champion that, that was our dream.
However sadly, as you say, issues occur and we misplaced that towards Bourge en Bresse, however that was a very good season.
Eric Guilleminault: Good. Mm-hmm. Um, what’s your favourite transfer on the basketball courtroom? Offensive transfer.
Mohamed Diawara: My favourite transfer. I really feel prefer it’s crossover or step again. This jab I like. I just like the jab too. I just like the enjoyable faux jab.
Mohamed Diawara: Then I take my shuttle, I’m gonna go to the put up. I really feel like that’s my, that’s my GoTo transfer.
Eric Guilleminault: And would you moderately have a dunk, a block, a metal, or an help?
Mohamed Diawara: I’m going to take that dunk. I’m going to take that dunk.
Eric Guilleminault: Okay, on the courtroom, how would a teammate describe you?
Mohamed Diawara: I really feel like each, everyone who we, who I play know my skillset know that I’m an all-around participant.
So I might say due to this fact describing they’re going to love a or, or simply the phrase all-around participant, one thing like this. Positive.
Eric Guilleminault: Protection is a tough factor to do. It’s self-motivation and whatnot. What retains you motivated?
Mohamed Diawara: Uh, on, protection. I, I simply love protection that that’s the, that’s not the job that each everyone wish to do, however I really feel like, you may actually, actually make you some cash for those who do it good. So you bought to be an awesome defender. And I really feel like what’s motivating me is simply that I wish to play on the highest stage. And I do know for me to play the very best stage, I’ve to [be a great defender. That’s what motivated me.
Eric Guilleminault: Makes sense.
Eric Guilleminault: Let’s go a little bit off the court for a little bit. What are your biggest interests off the court?
Mohamed Diawara: Off Court. I’m not really a guy going to play like the whole journey on, the PS five I’m who like spend time with his family. And, but you know, I can play a little bit if I can, if I have the opportunity to play soccer or watch tv, watch movies. I think that’s my, that’s what I like to go up to court, but, I really like to, to stay at home most of the time.
Eric Guilleminault: What’s your favorite movie?
Mohamed Diawara: I got to say Black Panther. Really? A movie that I love.
Eric Guilleminault: Okay.
Mohamed Diawara: Or Avatar, you know. Avatar.
Eric Guilleminault: Yeah. Yeah.
Eric Guilleminault: Win an Olympic Gold Medal for France or win an NBA title if you could only do one in your career.
Mohamed Diawara: I think the Olympic medal, I think. Yeah, with France.
Eric Guilleminault: Top two most used apps on your phone right now. What do you think you use the most?
Mohamed Diawara: Instagram and TikTok for sure. I think so. Okay. Okay. Instagram, TikTok, or maybe maybe X now is not Twitter. X, maybe X? Yeah.
Eric Guilleminault: Okay.
Eric Guilleminault: For the audience that who doesn’t know you, this is a good chance to tell them who are you as a person?
Mohamed Diawara: Yeah, I mean, I’m a chill guy. I’m not a guy who will talk a lot. I mean, if I know you, I’m going to talk to you. If I don’t know you, I’m going to be more like, uh, personal. But I’m, I’m just a chill guy. For real. I like to laugh. I’m a funny guy. And, yeah, really a chill.
I think, the best word to describe me, chill.
Eric Guilleminault: Chill.
Mohamed Diawara: Mm-hmm.
Eric Guilleminault: Okay. Well thank you for your time.
Mohamed Diawara: No, problem. Thanks
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