NBA: The Spurs Recruit a Replacement for Victor Wembanyama
Passionately devoted to basketball, having moved to San Antonio to follow Victor Wembanyama’s Spurs after graduating from IEJ, with a constant focus on the NBA, both on the court and in terms of statistics and contracts.
The San Antonio Spurs announced on Monday the signing of Mamadi Diakité to a “two-way” contract. While he may not play a significant role for the team, the 2.06-meter interior will strengthen the Texan frontcourt, providing support for Victor Wembanyama in the wake of injuries to Zach Collins, Charles Bediako, and Charles Bassey.
The San Antonio Spurs have lost several big men to injuries since the start of the NBA season. To bolster their frontcourt, they have recruited Mamadi Diakité as a new replacement for Victor Wembanyama at the center position.
A New Addition for San Antonio
The Spurs announced on Monday the signing of Diakité to a “two-way” contract—a type of contract that allows players to play for both an NBA team and its G League affiliate.
The 2.06-meter interior has played 19 games in the development league this season with the Westchester Knicks, averaging 8.8 points, 5.9 rebounds, and one block per game.
A native of Conakry, Guinea, Diakité has appeared in 49 NBA games throughout his career, playing for the Bucks, the Thunder, and the Cavaliers. He won an NBA championship with Milwaukee in 2021, making brief appearances in some playoff games.
NBA : Une lueur d’espoir pour Victor Wembanyama et les Spurs
https://t.co/eNnofFpVIE pic.twitter.com/4ieFvCOlEi— le10sport (@le10sport) December 30, 2023
A Necessary Addition to the Spurs’ Frontcourt
At 26 years old, Mamadi Diakité does not have extensive experience in the league, and it is unlikely that he will play a significant role for the Spurs.
However, he could see playing time to compensate for the absence of Zach Collins, San Antonio’s backup center, who is expected to miss two to four weeks due to a right ankle sprain.
At the beginning of the season, the franchise also lost its center Charles Bassey, who is recovering from a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
More recently, they had to part ways with Charles Bediako, who is suffering from a torn medial collateral ligament. His departure opened up a spot for a two-way contract for Diakité.
