{"id":896,"date":"2026-05-30T07:05:24","date_gmt":"2026-05-30T07:05:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/charlotterelocationguide.com\/?p=896"},"modified":"2026-05-30T07:05:24","modified_gmt":"2026-05-30T07:05:24","slug":"how-hornets-center-moussa-diabate-plans-to-make-huge-leap-for-2026-27-nba-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/charlotterelocationguide.com\/?p=896","title":{"rendered":"How Hornets center Moussa Diabat\u00e9 plans to make huge leap for 2026-27 NBA season"},"content":{"rendered":"

AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.<\/p>\n

Read our AI Policy.<\/a><\/p>\n

On a dais inside the atrium of Spectrum Center\u2019s main entrance, Moussa Diabat\u00e9<\/a> recalled a conversation that made him chuckle.<\/p>\n

Read more Accused shooter\u2019s \u2018folk hero\u2019 narrative spread fast. Records show years of warning signs.<\/a><\/p>\n

The Charlotte Hornets\u2019<\/a> big man remembered chatting with a college teammate at the University of Michigan, about the idea of playing in the NBA. Diabat\u00e9 pondered how the crowd could acknowledge him in a personal manner, figuring it would be a relatively easy slam dunk because of the first syllable that rolls off the tongue when formally greeting him.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne day, that would be dope,\u201d Diabat\u00e9 said Wednesday. \u201cI get in the league, and whenever they call my name, just have everybody just saying my name \u2018Moose.\u2019 That would be dope. And for it to finally happen, it\u2019s dope.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m very happy and it\u2019s a blessing. I just want to, again, thank everyone for everything.\u201d<\/p>\n

Flanked by coach Charles Lee to his right, and Jeff Peterson<\/a>, the Hornets\u2019 president of basketball operations, to his left, Diabat\u00e9 was looking in a mirror in a sense. More than 100 people \u2014 including teammates Kon Knueppel<\/a>, Ryan Kalkbrenner and Liam McNeeley \u2014 were there to celebrate Diabat\u00e9 officially being presented with the NBA\u2019s 2025-26 Kia Hustle Award.<\/p>\n

The award highlights someone who makes effort plays that don\u2019t appear in traditional box scores, but still foster team success. It\u2019s been presented annually since 2016-17, and the recipient is determined by a statistical formula incorporating the metrics of deflections, loose balls recovered, charges drawn, screen assists, contested shots and box outs.<\/p>\n

To Lee, Diabat\u00e9 exhibits all that and more.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe thing that I love \u2014 there\u2019s a humility, there\u2019s a sense of gratitude that he brings to our locker room,\u201d Lee said. \u201cEarly in the year he\u2019s not starting and a lot of guys in that position, knowing how good they are and how he contributed the year before, he could have decided to be toxic or to be upset or to find ways just to bring our group down.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd all he did was support Ryan in that moment when he was starting. He stayed patient, he was always ready for any opportunity he had. He had an open mind when I said I wanted to start different ways and have a versatility to us. When you have a guy that has that type of humility and a sense of gratitude in what it means to be an NBA player, it\u2019s just so refreshing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Peterson was well aware of Diabat\u00e9 long before they ended up in Charlotte together, initially scouting him when the Wolverines played at Rutgers during his lone season at Michigan. That\u2019s when Peterson worked for the Brooklyn Nets as an assistant general manager, so a trip to the other side of the Hudson River was an easy trek.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou remember that game?\u201d Peterson said.<\/p>\n

Like an elephant, apparently.<\/p>\n

\u201cI hit a couple of 3s,\u201d Diabat\u00e9 said, eliciting laughs.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou did, actually,\u201d Peterson said. \u201cThe thing that always attracted me to Moussa was his energy and how hard he pays on a nightly basis. \u2026 He was humble enough to accept a two-way contract with us and the minute he stepped in the gym, we knew that we could have a piece there.\u201d<\/p>\n

Leading up to his honor, the Charlotte Observer got the opportunity to chat with Diabat\u00e9 about several things, including what he intends on working on this offseason and how much he\u2019s motivated to show he\u2019s not a complacent individual:<\/p>\n

Roderick Boone:<\/b> How much are you motivated by how the season ended against Orlando?<\/p>\n

Read more NC\u2019s private school voucher program will get a state audit<\/a><\/p>\n

Moussa Diabate:<\/b> Oh, very much so. I think I\u2019m very much so focused. I\u2019m really trying to be intentional about my work, especially now that I definitely have roots in the NBA now. Not saying that I didn\u2019t do that before, but that\u2019s technically my first run where it\u2019s like, \u2018Ok, go out there and let\u2019s see what you got going on. I\u2019m very excited. I\u2019m very excited about all of the future. Like I said, I\u2019m going to keep on working and I\u2019m very, very, very motivated for sure.<\/p>\n

RB:<\/b> What do you plan to do this offseason? How will you make yourself better next year?<\/p>\n

MD:<\/b> Obviously, always be great at what I do already. I think that\u2019s a no-brainer. But definitely just gaining some weight, being able to absorb contact better. I think that\u2019s going to be a big thing, but also me being more comfortable offensively. I want to obviously be even more of a threat.<\/p>\n

Not saying that at the end of the day, I want to (have) a pull-up jumper and all this, but being a threat offensively is going to make me even better, and it\u2019s going to help my teammate. So for me, definitely being comfortable with the ball more. Whether it\u2019s me pushing it on the break or just on my handoffs or anything like that, me driving to the basket. Just really expand my game.<\/p>\n

RB:<\/b> You mentioned expanding your game and the offensive part. How do you go about doing that? Is that working with coaches, watching film?<\/p>\n

MD:<\/b> Really both. From working on your game, on the aspect of the game that you know that you don\u2019t have the chance to really work on during the season. And obviously watching film. Watching the plays that maybe you feel like you could emulate in sense or shape or form, and trying to really like, understand where you could fit in that. Whether that\u2019s from the elbow, from the top of the key, the corner, whatever it is. Just understanding where the situation is going to be and what you can do from there.<\/p>\n

RB:<\/b> You\u2019ve been really good with the starting unit alongside Brandon Miller, LaMelo Ball, Kon Knueppel and Miles Bridges. What do you think was the biggest reason you were able to win so many games as a starting five?<\/p>\n

MD:<\/b> I think it\u2019s just our pace. I think our pace has been very big. I don\u2019t think people realize how much we run. We really be out there just pushing the ball, whether (it\u2019s on) misses or makes. I think the pressure that we apply to that rim \u2014 and what I mean by applying pressure to that rim, it\u2019s not forced like, \u2018Oh, yeah, getting into the paint.\u2019<\/p>\n

But it\u2019s just us being relentless and getting a good shot. I think that\u2019s the most important thing. Sometimes as a team, you can get passive. As time goes on, and you get tired, you can get more and more passive. And that\u2019s where you can very much shift, but when you apply that pressure consistently whether you\u2019re losing or winning, it gives a whole different facet to the team and to the game.<\/p>\n

RB:<\/b> How much do you still have that drive to show people that you are not complacent and can be a better player for years to come?<\/p>\n

MD:<\/b> Oh, yeah. For sure. Like I said, I ain\u2019t signed nothing. Right now, ain\u2019t nothing so, shoot, I would have no right to get complacent. I don\u2019t think that\u2019s how you should be. But whatever happens for me, like I said it never changes. I think that\u2019s the best way to go about it. Always give everything I have and trust my work. After that, I try to not put too much pressure on myself. I trust my work and that God is going to take care of everything.<\/p>\n

Read more Technical glitches hinder CMS state testing for the second day in a row<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Charlotte Hornets center Moussa Diabat\u00e9 presented with NBA 2025-26 Kia Hustle Award during a ceremony at Spectrum Center. Diabate in Hornets roster plans.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":895,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-896","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-read-todays-edition"],"yoast_head":"\nHow Hornets center Moussa Diabat\u00e9 plans to make huge leap for 2026-27 NBA season - \u0421harlotte Relocation Guide<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/charlotterelocationguide.com\/?p=896\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How Hornets center Moussa Diabat\u00e9 plans to make huge leap for 2026-27 NBA season - \u0421harlotte Relocation Guide\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Charlotte Hornets center Moussa Diabat\u00e9 presented with NBA 2025-26 Kia Hustle Award during a ceremony at Spectrum Center. Diabate in Hornets roster plans.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/charlotterelocationguide.com\/?p=896\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"\u0421harlotte Relocation Guide\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-05-30T07:05:24+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"admin\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"admin\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"7 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/charlotterelocationguide.com\\\/?p=896#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/charlotterelocationguide.com\\\/?p=896\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"admin\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/charlotterelocationguide.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/8dbe691609d05fbc6dbaa5c440b54a93\"},\"headline\":\"How Hornets center Moussa Diabat\u00e9 plans to make huge leap for 2026-27 NBA season\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-05-30T07:05:24+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/charlotterelocationguide.com\\\/?p=896\"},\"wordCount\":1344,\"commentCount\":0,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/charlotterelocationguide.com\\\/?p=896#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/charlotterelocationguide.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/3e70b1a4afe39f1d10ebcd0b35106c15.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"Read today's Edition\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/charlotterelocationguide.com\\\/?p=896#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/charlotterelocationguide.com\\\/?p=896\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/charlotterelocationguide.com\\\/?p=896\",\"name\":\"How Hornets center Moussa Diabat\u00e9 plans to make huge leap for 2026-27 NBA season - \u0421harlotte Relocation Guide\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/charlotterelocationguide.com\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/charlotterelocationguide.com\\\/?p=896#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/charlotterelocationguide.com\\\/?p=896#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/charlotterelocationguide.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/3e70b1a4afe39f1d10ebcd0b35106c15.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-05-30T07:05:24+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/charlotterelocationguide.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/8dbe691609d05fbc6dbaa5c440b54a93\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/charlotterelocationguide.com\\\/?p=896#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/charlotterelocationguide.com\\\/?p=896\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/charlotterelocationguide.com\\\/?p=896#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/charlotterelocationguide.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/3e70b1a4afe39f1d10ebcd0b35106c15.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/charlotterelocationguide.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/3e70b1a4afe39f1d10ebcd0b35106c15.jpg\",\"width\":1200,\"height\":674},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/charlotterelocationguide.com\\\/?p=896#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/charlotterelocationguide.com\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"How Hornets center Moussa Diabat\u00e9 plans to make huge leap for 2026-27 NBA season\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/charlotterelocationguide.com\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/charlotterelocationguide.com\\\/\",\"name\":\"\u0421harlotte Relocation Guide\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/charlotterelocationguide.com\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/charlotterelocationguide.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/8dbe691609d05fbc6dbaa5c440b54a93\",\"name\":\"admin\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/50b1ad2e498f523425ee0a8cc5180a210646db1622662a3d56cc405d3e0c346a?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/50b1ad2e498f523425ee0a8cc5180a210646db1622662a3d56cc405d3e0c346a?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/50b1ad2e498f523425ee0a8cc5180a210646db1622662a3d56cc405d3e0c346a?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"admin\"},\"sameAs\":[\"http:\\\/\\\/charlotterelocationguide.com\"],\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/charlotterelocationguide.com\\\/?author=1\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"How Hornets center Moussa Diabat\u00e9 plans to make huge leap for 2026-27 NBA season - \u0421harlotte Relocation Guide","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/charlotterelocationguide.com\/?p=896","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"How Hornets center Moussa Diabat\u00e9 plans to make huge leap for 2026-27 NBA season - \u0421harlotte Relocation Guide","og_description":"Charlotte Hornets center Moussa Diabat\u00e9 presented with NBA 2025-26 Kia Hustle Award during a ceremony at Spectrum Center. Diabate in Hornets roster plans.","og_url":"https:\/\/charlotterelocationguide.com\/?p=896","og_site_name":"\u0421harlotte Relocation Guide","article_published_time":"2026-05-30T07:05:24+00:00","author":"admin","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"admin","Est. reading time":"7 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/charlotterelocationguide.com\/?p=896#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/charlotterelocationguide.com\/?p=896"},"author":{"name":"admin","@id":"https:\/\/charlotterelocationguide.com\/#\/schema\/person\/8dbe691609d05fbc6dbaa5c440b54a93"},"headline":"How Hornets center Moussa Diabat\u00e9 plans to make huge leap for 2026-27 NBA season","datePublished":"2026-05-30T07:05:24+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/charlotterelocationguide.com\/?p=896"},"wordCount":1344,"commentCount":0,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/charlotterelocationguide.com\/?p=896#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/charlotterelocationguide.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/3e70b1a4afe39f1d10ebcd0b35106c15.jpg","articleSection":["Read today's Edition"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/charlotterelocationguide.com\/?p=896#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/charlotterelocationguide.com\/?p=896","url":"https:\/\/charlotterelocationguide.com\/?p=896","name":"How Hornets center Moussa Diabat\u00e9 plans to make huge leap for 2026-27 NBA season - \u0421harlotte Relocation Guide","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/charlotterelocationguide.com\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/charlotterelocationguide.com\/?p=896#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/charlotterelocationguide.com\/?p=896#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/charlotterelocationguide.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/3e70b1a4afe39f1d10ebcd0b35106c15.jpg","datePublished":"2026-05-30T07:05:24+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/charlotterelocationguide.com\/#\/schema\/person\/8dbe691609d05fbc6dbaa5c440b54a93"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/charlotterelocationguide.com\/?p=896#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/charlotterelocationguide.com\/?p=896"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/charlotterelocationguide.com\/?p=896#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/charlotterelocationguide.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/3e70b1a4afe39f1d10ebcd0b35106c15.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/charlotterelocationguide.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/3e70b1a4afe39f1d10ebcd0b35106c15.jpg","width":1200,"height":674},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/charlotterelocationguide.com\/?p=896#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/charlotterelocationguide.com\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"How Hornets center Moussa Diabat\u00e9 plans to make huge leap for 2026-27 NBA season"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/charlotterelocationguide.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/charlotterelocationguide.com\/","name":"\u0421harlotte Relocation Guide","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/charlotterelocationguide.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/charlotterelocationguide.com\/#\/schema\/person\/8dbe691609d05fbc6dbaa5c440b54a93","name":"admin","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/50b1ad2e498f523425ee0a8cc5180a210646db1622662a3d56cc405d3e0c346a?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/50b1ad2e498f523425ee0a8cc5180a210646db1622662a3d56cc405d3e0c346a?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/50b1ad2e498f523425ee0a8cc5180a210646db1622662a3d56cc405d3e0c346a?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"admin"},"sameAs":["http:\/\/charlotterelocationguide.com"],"url":"https:\/\/charlotterelocationguide.com\/?author=1"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/charlotterelocationguide.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/896","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/charlotterelocationguide.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/charlotterelocationguide.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/charlotterelocationguide.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/charlotterelocationguide.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=896"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/charlotterelocationguide.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/896\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/charlotterelocationguide.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/895"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/charlotterelocationguide.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=896"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/charlotterelocationguide.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=896"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/charlotterelocationguide.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=896"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}