FILE PHOTO: Apr 9, 2021; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Mamadi Diakite (25) grabs a rebound behind Charlotte Hornets center Cody Zeller (40) during the second quarter at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
April 22, 2021
The Milwaukee Bucks signed rookie forward Mamadi Diakite to a multi-year NBA contract Wednesday.
Diakite, 24, originally signed a two-way deal with the Bucks on Nov. 24 after he went undrafted.
After a sensational season in the NBA G League, he has averaged 2.5 points, 2.3 rebounds and 8.6 minutes in 11 games with Milwaukee.
“I have more to prove, I have more to give to the team and I have more to show to the fans,” Diakite told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Tuesday. “Them doing this shows me that they trust me in many ways, but I still have work to do. I’m someone who always got it out of the mud and I’ll keep fighting my way through that.”
Diakite, who won a national championship at Virginia, averaged 18.5 points, 10.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 2.1 blocks in 12 games in the G League this season. He made the All-NBA G League First Team, All-Defensive Team and All-Rookie Team, and was runner-up in Rookie of the Year voting.
(Field Level Media)
