Cheick Diallo

Cheick Diallo (born September 13, 1996) is a Malian professional basketball player for Avtodor Saratov of the VTB United League. Diallo was a five-star recruit and the MVP (Most Valuable Player) of the 2015 McDonald's All-American Boys Game. He played one season of college basketball for Kansas before declaring for the 2016 NBA draft, where he was selected with the 33rd overall pick by the Los Angeles Clippers.

Cheick Diallo
Diallo playing for the Pelicans in 2017
Avtodor Saratov
PositionPower forward / Center
LeagueVTB United League
Personal information
Born (1996-09-13) September 13, 1996
Kayes, Mali
NationalityMalian
Listed height6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
Listed weight219 lb (99 kg)
Career information
High schoolOur Savior New American School
(Centereach, New York)
CollegeKansas (2015–2016)
NBA draft2016 / Round: 2 / Pick: 33rd overall
Selected by the Los Angeles Clippers
Playing career2016–present
Career history
2016–2019New Orleans Pelicans
2016→Austin Spurs
2017→Long Island Nets
2017→Greensboro Swarm
2019–2020Phoenix Suns
2021–presentAvtodor Saratov
Career highlights and awards
Stats  at NBA.com
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com

Early life

Diallo was born and raised in Kayes, Mali. It took approximately 15 hours to drive from his hometown to Bamako, the country's capital city. He was the youngest in his family and had five brothers. He often played basketball with his older friends and family which brought out his skills. Diallo moved to the United States in February 2012 in pursuit of a basketball career. He was not fluent in the English language at the time. He recalled the time, "It was so tough. I left my parents, my friends, my brothers, everything, just to come here.'"[1] Diallo began playing basketball in 2010.[1]

High school career
Diallo in the 2015 McDonald's All-American Game

Through its international program, Diallo began attending Our Savior New American School in Centereach, New York. He played with Chris Obekpa in his freshman season and, at first, was dominated by the fellow African big man. Diallo said, "I didn't know what I was doing. I couldn't make a point. [Obekpa] blocked me every time."[1] In later seasons, he became more effective for his team and attracted attention through his shot-blocking, rebounding, and versatility. Diallo was invited to the NBPA Top 100 camp in 2013 and went on to become its first MVP from Africa.[1][2] As a junior in 2014, he averaged 18.5 points, 11.2 rebounds, and 4.0 blocks per game while leading his team to a 28–3 record and a division championship. As a senior, Diallo averaged 17.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per game. Diallo was named MVP of the 2015 McDonald's All-American Boys Game after scoring 18 points and 10 rebounds leading the East team to a 111–91 win over the West.[3] Diallo was also named MVP of the 2015 Jordan Brand Classic, tallied 26 points and 11 rebounds. Diallo was rated as a five-star recruit and ranked as the No. 7 overall recruit and No. 3 power forward in the 2015 high school class.[4] On April 28, 2015, Diallo committed to Kansas.[5]

College career

Diallo missed the first five games of his freshman season with Kansas after the NCAA failed to clear him to play due to eligibility concerns.[6] On November 25, 2015, he was cleared to play for the Jayhawks in their game against Loyola on December 1, after the NCAA ultimately ruled Diallo had received a limited amount of impermissible benefits.[7][8] In his lone season at Kansas, Diallo averaged 3.0 points and 2.5 rebounds in 7.5 minutes per game.

In April 2016, Diallo declared for the NBA draft, forgoing his final three years of college eligibility.[9] In May 2016, at the NBA Draft Combine, Diallo registered a 7-foot, 4½-inch wingspan and an 8-foot-11½ standing reach.[10]

Professional career

New Orleans Pelicans (2016–2019)

On June 23, 2016, he was selected by the Los Angeles Clippers with the 33rd overall pick in 2016 NBA draft.[11] Diallo was traded to the New Orleans Pelicans later that night.[11][12] On July 22, 2016, he signed with the Pelicans after averaging 10.2 points, 9.4 rebounds and 2.2 blocks in five Summer League games.[13] He made his NBA debut on October 29, 2016, recording one rebound and one block in six minutes off the bench in the Pelicans' 98–79 loss to the San Antonio Spurs.[14] Diallo played in just two games for a total of seven minutes over the Pelicans' first 23 games of the season.[15] On December 10, 2016, he played in just under 31 minutes off the bench and scored 19 points in the Pelicans' 133–105 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.[16] He also recorded 10 rebounds and shot 8-of-15 from the field.[15] On April 11, 2017, he scored 19 points in a 108–96 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.[17] The following day, in the Pelicans' season finale, Diallo had 12 points and 16 rebounds in a 103–100 win over the Portland Trail Blazers.[18] During his rookie season, he had multiple assignments with the Austin Spurs, Long Island Nets and Greensboro Swarm of the NBA Development League, pursuant to the flexible assignment rule.[19]

On March 9, 2018, Diallo scored a season-high 14 points in a 116–97 loss to the Washington Wizards.[20] On March 18, 2018, he set a new season high with 17 points in a 108–89 win over the Boston Celtics.[21]

On February 6, 2019, Diallo scored a season-high 18 points in a 125–120 win over the Chicago Bulls.[22] On February 22, he had 16 points and a career-high 18 rebounds in a 126–111 loss to the Indiana Pacers.[23] Diallo matched his season high of 18 points with perfect shooting in a 128–115 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on February 23.[24]

Phoenix Suns (2019–2020)

On July 23, 2019, the Phoenix Suns signed Diallo to a two-year contract.[25] On November 24, Diallo scored a career-high 22 points in a 114–102 loss to the Denver Nuggets.[26]

Avtodor Saratov (2021–present)

On February 2, 2021, he has signed with Avtodor Saratov of the VTB United League.[27]

Career statistics
Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

Regular season
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2016–17 New Orleans 17011.7.474–.7144.3.2.2.45.1
2017–18 New Orleans 52011.2.580–.7584.1.4.2.44.9
2018–19 New Orleans 64114.0.620.250.7465.2.5.5.56.0
2019–20 Phoenix 47210.2.648.333.8722.8.5.2.34.7
Career 180312.0.598.286.7724.2.4.3.45.3

Playoffs
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2018 New Orleans 706.9.417––1.3.0.1.11.4
Career 706.9.417––1.3.0.1.11.4

College
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2015–16 Kansas 2717.5.569–.5562.5.0.3.93.0

References
  1. Calle, Franklyn (February 25, 2015). "Mali Music". SlamOnline.com. Retrieved April 20, 2015.
  2. Braziller, Zach (September 6, 2013). "From Mali to L.I., Diallo leaps to top tier of HS hoopers". NYPost.com. Retrieved April 20, 2015.
  3. "Undecided Cheick Diallo leads East over West in McDonald's game". www.espn.com. Retrieved April 2, 2015.
  4. "Cheick Diallo – Basketball Recruiting – Player Profiles". www.espn.com. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
  5. "No.7 recruit PF Cheick Diallo says he has committed to Kansas Jayhawks". www.espn.com. Retrieved April 28, 2015.
  6. O'Donnell, Ricky (August 5, 2015). "Star Kansas freshman Cheick Diallo yet to be cleared by the NCAA". SBNation.com. Retrieved August 5, 2015.
  7. "NCAA says Cheick Diallo can suit up for Kansas starting Tuesday". ESPN.com. November 26, 2015. Retrieved November 26, 2015.
  8. Dodd, Rustin (November 11, 2015). "Cheick Diallo's eligibility case at Kansas raises questions about NCAA's mission". KansasCity.com. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  9. Borzello, Jeff (April 7, 2016). "Cheick Diallo to declare for NBA draft". ESPN.com. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
  10. Goodman, Jeff (May 14, 2016). "Cheick Diallo to keep name in NBA draft pool". ESPN.com. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
  11. Reid, John (June 23, 2016). "Pelicans acquire former Kansas power forward Cheick Diallo's draft rights in trade with Clippers". NOLA.com. Retrieved June 24, 2016.
  12. Eichenhofer, Jim (June 24, 2016). "Pelicans land Cheick Diallo in second-round trade with Clippers". NBA.com. Retrieved June 24, 2016.
  13. "Pelicans Sign 2016 Second Round Draft Pick Cheick Diallo". NBA.com. July 22, 2016. Retrieved July 22, 2016.
  14. "Pelicans vs. Spurs – Box Score". ESPN.com. October 29, 2016. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
  15. "Cheick Diallo 2016–17 Game Log". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 11, 2016.
  16. "Clippers score season-high 133 points in win vs. reeling Pelicans". ESPN.com. December 10, 2016. Retrieved December 11, 2016.
  17. "Metta scores 18 in possible farewell, Lakers top Pels 108–96". ESPN.com. April 11, 2017. Retrieved April 12, 2017.
  18. "Pelicans end the season with a 103–100 win over the Blazers". ESPN.com. April 12, 2017. Retrieved April 13, 2017.
  19. "2016–17 NBA Assignments". NBA.com. Archived from the original on January 26, 2017. Retrieved January 11, 2017.
  20. "Without Davis, Pelicans' win streak ends at 10 vs Wizards". ESPN.com. March 9, 2018. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  21. "Davis leads Pelicans past Celtics 108–89". ESPN.com. March 18, 2018. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
  22. New Orleans Pelicans at Chicago Bulls Box Score, February 6, 2019
  23. New Orleans Pelicans at Indiana Pacers Box Score, February 22, 2019
  24. Los Angeles Lakers at New Orleans Pelicans Box Score, February 23, 2019
  25. "Suns Sign Cheick Diallo". NBA.com. July 23, 2019. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
  26. "Nuggets rally to beat Suns for 5th straight victory". NBA.com. November 24, 2019. Retrieved November 26, 2019.
  27. "Cheick Diallo signs with Avtodor Saratov". Sportando. February 2, 2021. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
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