Former Virginia standout Mamadi Diakite continues to spread Midas touch with NBA championship
MILWAUKEE (BVM) — Though many NBA fans will attribute the Milwaukee Bucks’ recent NBA championship victory to the heroics of Finals MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, the lights out mid-range shooting of Khris Middleton or even the offseason acquisitions of Jrue Holiday and Bobby Portis, they may have to look deeper on the roster for the true reason. Though he didn’t add much in terms of on-court play, former Virginia Cavalier Mamadi Diakite may have been the Bucks’ ace in the hole, as seemingly everywhere he has gone in recent years has been followed by a championship.
On paper, Diakite’s contributions to the Bucks wouldn’t have fans give him much more than a second glance as he averaged 3.1 points, 2.4 rebounds and 0.6 assists in roughly 10 minutes during 14 regular season appearances. In the playoffs, the undrafted rookie was unsurprisingly used even more sparingly as he would only play in seven games averaging five minutes, one point and one rebound. However, it is the stuff that the box score doesn’t show that may have contributed to the team’s eventual title, one that took 50 years to win.
Prior to coming to the Bucks on a multi-year contract in April, Diakite played in the NBA’s G League bubble where he was outstanding. Although signed to a two-way contract with the Bucks after he went undrafted in the 2020 NBA Draft, Diakite would play his games with the Orlando Magic’s G League affiliate, the Lakeland Magic, after the Buck’s affiliate, the Wisconsin Herd, opted out of the bubble.
With the Magic, the 24-year-old would average 18.5 points, 10.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 2.1 blocks over 12 games in which the team would win seven. His play would eventually earn him All-NBA G League first team and All-NBA G League defensive team honors while also finishing second in NBA G League Rookie of the Year voting.
After his stellar season, Diakite would be called up to the Bucks on March 3. Just over a week later on March 11, his Lakeland Magic teammates would win the franchise’s first ever G-League title, making Diakite part of a championship team despite not playing in the championship game.
NBA G League Champion, @_MDiakite pic.twitter.com/FVufiOu5Tp
— Lakeland Magic (@LakelandMagic) March 16, 2021
However, this wasn’t the first time that Diakite led a team to a championship. As a member of the Virginia Cavaliers, the Guinean basketball player would show his knack for winning. As a redshirt junior during the 2018-19 season, Diakite would play in 38 games, starting 22, averaging 7.4 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.6 blocked shots en route to NCAA All-South Regional honors. Though he was solid throughout the season, it was during the NCAA Tournament that the junior truly broke out as he would score 17 points, with nine rebounds in the win over Gardner-Webb in NCAA first round, then lead the team with 14 points in their win over Oklahoma in second round followed by grabbing a career-high 11 rebounds in win over Oregon in the NCAA Sweet 16 and hitting a buzzer-beating jumper to send the game to overtime, where he would finish with 14 points, in the win over Purdue in the NCAA Elite Eight.
For his final two performances, Diakite would add a career high five blocked shots in win over Auburn in the Final Four before he scored nine points with seven rebounds and two blocks in NCAA Championship win over Texas Tech, helping the program win its first ever national title.
NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 🏆#GOHOOS pic.twitter.com/TkUN4olOdN
— Mamadi Diakite (@_mdiakite) April 13, 2019
Given his history, an NBA championship should’ve been as much of a sure thing as one of Diakite’s jump shots. Though he may not have impacted the game on the court, his championship mentality, preparation and grit certainly played its part on the Bucks’ historic run. With the NBA Championship, Diakite also etched his place in history becoming the first player to ever win an NCAA championship, a G League Championship and an NBA Championship. Given his reputation, this first NBA Championship won’t be Diakite’s last.
Congratulations Mamadi Diakite! @_mdiakite is the first player ever to win the NCAA Championship, NBA G League Championship and NBA Championship.#LKLDAlum pic.twitter.com/uaTtbfSVAi
— Lakeland Magic (@LakelandMagic) July 21, 2021
