Now a starter for the Charlotte Hornets, French center Moussa Diabaté opens up in an exclusive interview. From his rise in the NBA and his deep connection to his roots to a touch of humor about his teammate LaMelo Ball, the "Big Man" speaks candidly. Moussa is particularly valued for his defensive rebounding prowess and versatility.

Going from the bench and the G League to the starting lineup is no accident. For Diabaté, the recipe is simple but demanding: "My life hasn't really changed that much. It took a lot of perseverance and hard work. It's like anything else: you do the work and the results follow."

For Seneweb readers, Moussa is keen to emphasize the importance of his origins. Despite his international career, his heart beats to the rhythm of the continent: “My roots are very, very important to me. I come from a truly African family. Whether it's culturally, the food, or the language, it's always been like that, especially on my mother's side. As a Malian-Guinean, I am proud to be so.”

The atmosphere lightens when the team's star, LaMelo Ball, is mentioned. Known for his sometimes risky driving around the Spectrum Center, LaMelo isn't likely to find Diabaté in the passenger seat. With a knowing smile, the center prefers to err on the side of caution.

"Unfortunately, things have happened, events have occurred... that's life. These things happen. But for me, at least, I'll just say that... well."

"Is the team bus better?"

"There you have it... no comment."

When asked about the explosion of French players in the NBA, Diabaté emphasized training and athletic potential: "I left at 14, I started playing basketball at 12. I didn't spend a lot of time in France. It's the talent we have. I think that athletically, physically, we have very high potential. Technically, we're there, we're a great country. We have a lot of coaches who know what they're doing."

While the Hornets are fighting for a play-in spot, Diabaté remains focused, driven by this quiet strength and a Franco-African identity that makes him proud on American courts.