The winner of his duel against Wembley, Moussa Diabate never slows down

It was a little less than a year ago. During Victor Wembanyama’s previous visit to Spurs, in February 2025. Moussa Diabate he already stood out with 9 points, 15 rebounds and 6 assists, and Charlotte won on the wire 117-116. Even then, the French interior surprised the Hornets with its activity, commitment and determination to tickle its “big little” brother from San Antonio.

A year later, Charlotte continued on its way in the right direction until a breakthrough occurred in early 2026, allowing the North Carolina franchise to win 11 of its last 16 games.

Along with Charles Lee’s training leaders such as LaMelo Ball, Miles Bridges, Brandon Miller and most recently Kon Knuepel, Moussa Diabate may be the biggest satisfaction of the past month.

A pace of play that matches the other starters

The game against Spurs confirmed that because in addition to contributing a prestigious victory against “Wambi” and his troops (111-106), Moussa Diabate once again showed how valuable he can be, with his 12 points, including a shot that was very difficult in “money time” to go with 10 rebounds and 2 blocks, not forgetting his 6 assists, a record tied and established…against San Antonio last year!

Two days before Christmas, Charles Lee made him the starter after Ryan Kalkbrenner’s elbow injury. The Frenchman has since confirmed this selection, continuing to improve at a rapid pace to show that his place is indeed in the top five, averaging more than 9 points and 9 rebounds since the start of the year.

“I think he deserved it”, coach Lee pointed out. “He showed how much he affects the game on both sides of the court, how much he really helps, I think, to raise the level of the other players who are also in the five. Defensively he is very versatile. At first we thought that Ryan, with his bigger size, would be more useful in protecting the racket. And if we understand that Moenses is also small, even a little. The pace of the game suits Melo, Brandon and Cohn, who like to play forward and down the wings, but I think his engine is a little different than Moussa.

Day and night with last season

We could also highlight his ability to adapt, which required him to change the game a bit when facing the “Wemby” mountain, through his passes or his floaters with a well-supported trajectory to avoid the counter.

Like the two back-to-back wins in Memphis and Dallas, this success against San Antonio confirms the Hornets’ new status in recent weeks. Especially at the end of the match, during which the pressure increased. But like in Dallas (121-123) where Charlotte held on against Washington (119-115).

“We will look for victories, that is what makes the main difference between last year and this year”, noted Moussa Diabate at the beginning of the series. “Before, I had the impression that every time we fall, it has a snowball effect, where bad things go one after the other. This year, I have the feeling that it is much better, in the sense that we will take things into our own hands. Whether we are in a bad game, or in a game where we are clumsy, or where we defend poorly, we always find a way to come through.”

The next goal for Moussa Diabate and the Hornets? Go for a seventh straight win, something the franchise hasn’t accomplished in ten years. And so keep getting closer to the Top 10 in the East!

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How to read statistics? MJ = matches played; Min = Minute; Shots = Shots Successful / Shots Attempted; 3 points = 3 points / attempt 3 points; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive jump; Tot = Total number of jumps; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal mistakes; Int = intercepts; Bp = lost balls; Ct: Against; Points = Points.