Drafted 51st overall, Mohamed Diawara became the second French prospect the New York Knicks have selected in as many years, following Pacome Dadiet last season.
The Summer League Knicks were not the most exciting team in Las Vegas. Their roster consisted of non-shooters, inexperienced defenders, and multiple injuries to starting players, including Dadiet and Kevin McCullar Jr.
Diawara, the Knicks’ lone draft pick from 2025, showed out as the most exciting player to watch for the Knicks this summer.
Physical Attributes
Though officially listed at 6-foot-9, Diawara appears and plays taller.
In Summer League, he looked big enough to play center in small-ball lineups, often towering over players on the floor. Diawara possesses freakish physical attributes, including a 7-foot-4 wingspan and a 9-foot-1 standing reach, both of which rank in the 99th percentile among the 2025 draft class.
His wingspan stood out the most. He can get to balls in the lane that typical forwards cannot.
He also showed off impressive vertical and reach when getting to the rim. Diawara is a lob threat, but aside from Tyler Kolek, he didn’t have the playmakers around him to put it on full display in Vegas.
Playmaking IQ and Feel for the Game
Diawara was not a big scorer in the Summer League, but he showcased unteachable skills that caught people’s attention.
His ability to drive and find open shooters shined. Though he plays with a fast, sometimes wild pace, he slows the game down and makes the right reads when the ball is in his hands. That kind of feel is rare for a big forward and is uncommon among NBA prospects, especially in their first year of Summer League.
His ball-handling in those moments was equally impressive. If he can polish his footwork and learn more ways to score, he can take his game to the next level.
The best comparison for Diawara is Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam. Like Diawara, Siakam entered the league with a strong defensive frame and freakish physical tools, but without a polished scoring game. Siakam spent most of his rookie season in the G League, and Diawara will likely follow a similar path in his first year as a pro.
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