Mohamed Diawara is a 6’9 2005 born forward out of Paris, France. In the draft scene for a couple years now he is an early entrant candidate for this draft cycle. A versatile defender with a measure 7’3.75 wingspan he is a name our draft audience should know. We conducted the interview on May 31st, 2025, just prior to him heading to the states for NBA Draft workouts:
Eric Guilleminault: Hi. I’m Eric Guilleminault and I am with Mohamed Diawara who is a French prospect who has entered the 2025 NBA draft. Mohamed. For the draft audience that may not know you so well. Can you tell me a little bit about your background and about your basketball journey so far?
Mohamed Diawara: Yeah. Okay. I’m Mohamed. I’m 20 years old now and I started playing basketball at eight years old in Paris. Because my, now I’m playing professional three years and that’s a new challenge for, and that, that’s it. Okay.
Eric Guilleminault: So you said that you started basketball because of your sister? Yeah. I read a little bit about your background that your sister was very much, you were watching her in practice and that’s kind of how it got you started with the game, is that correct?
Mohamed Diawara: Yeah, exactly. That’s the same. I was at her practice when she was later and, you know, at the end of the practice I was like shooting the wall or during the practice. So that’s how I started liking basketball. Exactly.
Eric Guilleminault: Did you play other sports like soccer growing up before basketball?
Mohamed Diawara: Yeah, for sure.
Mohamed Diawara: In Paris. I feel like everybody plays soccer at first, so I played for, I played soccer for sure during like, I mean, during a lot of years, you know, after the school, during the school, but not, not really like in the club. I wasn’t in a club or, or something like, like that.
Eric Guilleminault: Yeah. Mm-hmm. And you grew up in Paris.
Eric Guilleminault: Mm-hmm. And you played with a you started at an early age and you played at Saint-Charles Charenton. Yeah. Mm-hmm. Which is a huge basketball club, and it turns out you were teammates with two players that are currently in the NBA Pacôme Dadiet. and Tidjane Salaün. How was that experience growing up \ and to follow up? Do you still keep in touch with those guys?
Mohamed Diawara: Yeah, for sure. I still keep in touch. Like I say, that’s funny because you asked me, I was in talking with Pacôme (Dadiet) yesterday. But uh, yeah, now Tidjane (Salaün) is more, more hard to have him. He’s but he’s still my guy. Both of both of them are still my guy. We, we still talking to each other right now. And yeah, as you say, I wa I was playing with them in Saint-Charles Charentons. Yeah, that was, you know, that was a, a good year. We had a great team and that was two of my, my, my good friends in, in that team. So, yeah. That was good.
Eric Guilleminault: Did they give you any sort of advice as you go through this draft process?
Mohamed Diawara: Yeah, for sure. Yeah, yeah, for sure. I ask a lot of question, and they gave a lot advice.
Eric Guilleminault: Your first, pro experience was in your hometown Paris.
Mohamed Diawara: Mm-hmm. Yeah.
Eric Guilleminault: Pro and also U 21 experience. [Yeah]. How did it feel to put that Paris uniform on for the first time as a pro?
Mohamed Diawara: Yeah, I mean, that was crazy. You know, I’m from Paris, born and raised, so I mean, that was just crazy to play e every weekend, every time in front of the family. In front of everybody, in front of every friend. So that was, I mean, that was crazy. And that was the, the, the good parts of, of that, that was really helping me, you know, and mentally and physically.
Mohamed Diawara: That was, that was great. I didn’t have to, to always have a apartment because my family was there, so was easier.
Eric Guilleminault: Okay. Your, your neighborhood is the 13th arrondisement, correct?
Mohamed Diawara: Yeah. Yes, exactly.
Eric Guilleminault: Let’s go a little bit about your, French Federation experience.
Mohamed Diawara: Mm-hmm.
Eric Guilleminault: You won a gold medal for the U 20 team in EuroBasket last year. Tell me a little bit on what you took away from that experience and how that experience was overall for you.
Mohamed Diawara: Um, that, I mean, that was great. Since I’ve been 13 or 14 years old, I’m playing every summer for the French national team. So it is now like a, a routine for me. And Yeah. You know, just like last year I won , my first gold medal with them. And that was a, that was a crazy moment. Year 2025 Champion of Europe. That was, that was crazy. And , I’m never going to forget it.
Eric Guilleminault: Nice. Mm-hmm. You also then played at the Adidas Euro camp in Treviso last year, and you measured really well. Six, nine and like nine three ish Wingspan, standing reach and stuff.
Mohamed Diawara: Mm-hmm.
Eric Guilleminault: Yeah. How was that experience and what kind of feedback did you receive from scouts while there?
Mohamed Diawara: That was great. That, that’s experience. You know, you have , the opportunity to play against a lot of, of great players from Europe, from the States. That was crazy.
Mohamed Diawara: And, actually as you say, uh uh, no, that was a cool, I had some really, really good like good results for the test. And, I had a lot of feedback with the scouts. That was great. They told me about what I need to improve, for the next season. And I think that I did it really well.
Mohamed Diawara: And no. That was great. That was great.
Eric Guilleminault: What sort of advice, did you implement this season?
Mohamed Diawara: Mm-hmm.
Eric Guilleminault: That you could let us know a little bit the audience that you think you Yeah. You got better from the feedback that you received?
Mohamed Diawara: Yeah, from the feedback the most feedback that I need to be more regular to have a better shoot
Mohamed Diawara: And I think, we work on it this season and I think it’s way better about my defense. I have to be a better defender. Like what’s going to be my job in the NBA if I can get there. And, um, that, yeah, that was most of the, of the advice that they gave me. Defense and 3-point shot. And, you know, just physically be better. Work on my body and all.
Eric Guilleminault: Now going on the defense, because you are, when we look at like your film and stuff
Mohamed Diawara: mm-hmm.
Eric Guilleminault: That’s one of your strengths it seems like.
Mohamed Diawara: Mm-hmm. Yeah, for sure. The defense. Uh, for sure.
Eric Guilleminault: When you’re defending, you can either, you’re at the top of the] key or like long, lengthy wing defender a lot of times.
Mm-hmm.
Eric Guilleminault: When you’re defending the pick and roll, what are you looking for? Do you have particular things? like if you’re on the ball, what are you looking for? If you’re in the drop, what are you looking for? What are you looking at? How are you tagging people? Like can you little describe that? For the draft audience?
Mohamed Diawara: Mm-hmm. No, I mean, when I’m guarding the ball train, I feel like, I mean, it depends on the defense that we are going to do with the coach, with the team. But most of the time I’m looking for the ball. I’m looking for. I know that I have long arms, so I know that I can deflect other passes
I can like really like disturb the guy who, the ball. So it’s going, it’s going to be my main job. And after, it’s depends on when we drop, like you say, I got a big wingspan. I know that I can catch, touch every ball and disturb the main player. So I think that’s what I’m doing and I’m doing pretty well.
Eric Guilleminault: Yes. , The stats agree with you. Yeah.
Eric Guilleminault: This was your second year at Cholet Pro?
Mohamed Diawara: Yeah, my, my first year. First first
Eric Guilleminault: year, sorry. Second year, in Pro. What do you feel you’ve improved and developed most over the course of the season?
Mohamed Diawara: I feel like I said, my 3-point shot, I think he is way better right now.
And I think my ball handling, I know that I’m, I mean, I’m, I’m a big guard for me. I feel like I’m a big guard. I can the ball like a guard and, that’s what I think I’m way better right now. I think my, yeah, my, my 3 point shot passes defense. I’m way better. I think I’m way better and, yeah, I think it’s pretty much.
Eric Guilleminault: Okay. How would you describe your game?
Mohamed Diawara: Mm-hmm. Um, I just saw my game as an all-around player. I can do everything on the court, uh, defensive. I can go one to five. I feel like offensively I can play one to five. I feel like I’m a, I’m really an all-around player. I can do everything on the court, handle the ball, shoot the ball, defensd every position.
Eric Guilleminault: So when I watched some (recent) film I noticed since I’ve watched you over the course of your career. Mm-hmm. That it seems like in the last 18 months you’re able to see, You’re a good passer, you’re like a point forward passer and stuff, but it seems like the ball moves quicker, like your decision process is quicker.
Am I right in that assessment? That things kind of slowed down for you in the last 18 months or is that just like something that developed over time that you got more comfortable at the pro level?
Mohamed Diawara: Mm-hmm. No, I think for sure, like you say, I’m thinking I’m way better at it. I feel like he, he is like with the, with the IQ, he come with the IQ, I think it’s way better.
And I think, that’s not even something that I work on. I think he’s just come with the maturity to play with the pros and starting to understand the game.
Eric Guilleminault: Yeah. Nice. Nice. Mm-hmm. What do you feel is your best skillset? If there’s one thing, what do you think you’re the best at?
And the follow up with that, what is the one thing that you think contributes the most to winning a basketball game that you do best?
Mohamed Diawara: I think it’s defense, for sure. For the second question, I think it’s defense. I mean, you, you cannot win games if you’re not defending. So I feel like it is making stop.
Yeah. Differently for sure. The one thing that you need to win game and the main thing I is my best, like, my best thing to do. I would say, I think it’s defensively. I think, my best version of me is defensively. I think I pressure the ball full court
Mohamed Diawara: I think is my best thing I do.
Eric Guilleminault: And I’ve seen you both at the wing and in the post. Mm-hmm. Like if a smaller defender will guard you, you’ll post them up and you’ll back them down.
Mohamed Diawara: Yeah, sure.
Eric Guilleminault: What are you looking for when you’re starting to back him down? Are you looking for the help defender? Are you, what are, what are you feeling out at that time?
Mohamed Diawara: Uh, I mean, most of the time, you know I’m taller than the guy who going to guard me. So I know that. I mean,, you know, when you’re good at post, everything going to scout. Make some help. So I know most of the time I’m going for the, I want the basket first. I want the basket first, but I know where the help is going to come.
Mohamed Diawara: So, um, I mean like I say I have a good IQ so I know that , the help going to come. So when I turn around, I’m just trying to find the open player because I know that if there is two guy on me, there is for sure one guy who’s going to be available. So I’m just looking for that guy.
Eric Guilleminault: Yeah. You are a very willing passer. Both on the wing, swinging it around.
Mohamed Diawara: Mm-hmm.
Eric Guilleminault: And even on drives. And then like I said, in the post, you always seem like you’re looking for that angle
Mohamed Diawara: Yes. Yes for sure
Eric Guilleminault: You just finished your season with Cholet and you unfortunately you lost to Bourg en Bresse.
Mm-hmm.
Eric Guilleminault: But you had a great game. 14 points 7 rebounds as a finale. What in a vacuum or to summarize do you take from this season with Cholet?
Mohamed Diawara: That it was a great season. We did a, a great job. We finished first. We, I mean, we were, we were first the whole season, but at the end, uh, things, uh, com complicated a little bit.
So we, but we finished like four, four is a, is pretty good. We just behind the EuroLeague teams. So I think we, we did a great job and I mean, I feel like that’s really my first year as like a total pro. So that was great. That was great. And If we, we could be, champion that, that was our dream.
But unfortunately, as you say, things happen and we lost that against Bourge en Bresse, but that was a really good season.
Eric Guilleminault: Nice. Mm-hmm. Um, what’s your favorite move on the basketball court? Offensive move.
Mohamed Diawara: My favorite move. I feel like it’s crossover or step back. This jab I like. I like the jab too. I like the fun fake jab.
Mohamed Diawara: Then I take my shuttle, I’m gonna go to the post. I feel like that’s my, that’s my GoTo move.
Eric Guilleminault: And would you rather have a dunk, a block, a steel, or an assist?
Mohamed Diawara: I’m going to take that dunk. I’m going to take that dunk.
Eric Guilleminault: Okay, on the court, how would a teammate describe you?
Mohamed Diawara: I feel like every, everybody who we, who I play know my skillset know that I’m an all-around player.
So I would say therefore describing they’re going to like a or, or just the word all-around player, something like this. Sure.
Eric Guilleminault: Defense is a hard thing to do. It’s self-motivation and whatnot. What keeps you motivated?
Mohamed Diawara: Uh, on, defense. I, I just love defense that that’s the, that’s not the job that every everybody want to do, but I feel like, you can really, really make you some money if you do it good. So you got to be a great defender. And I feel like what’s motivating me is just that I want to play at the highest level. And I know for me to play the highest level, I have to [be a great defender. That’s what motivated me.
Eric Guilleminault: Makes sense.
Eric Guilleminault: Let’s go a little bit off the court for a little bit. What are your biggest interests off the court?
Mohamed Diawara: Off Court. I’m not really a guy going to play like the whole journey on, the PS five I’m who like spend time with his family. And, but you know, I can play a little bit if I can, if I have the opportunity to play soccer or watch tv, watch movies. I think that’s my, that’s what I like to go up to court, but, I really like to, to stay at home most of the time.
Eric Guilleminault: What’s your favorite movie?
Mohamed Diawara: I got to say Black Panther. Really? A movie that I love.
Eric Guilleminault: Okay.
Mohamed Diawara: Or Avatar, you know. Avatar.
Eric Guilleminault: Yeah. Yeah.
Eric Guilleminault: Win an Olympic Gold Medal for France or win an NBA title if you could only do one in your career.
Mohamed Diawara: I think the Olympic medal, I think. Yeah, with France.
Eric Guilleminault: Top two most used apps on your phone right now. What do you think you use the most?
Mohamed Diawara: Instagram and TikTok for sure. I think so. Okay. Okay. Instagram, TikTok, or maybe maybe X now is not Twitter. X, maybe X? Yeah.
Eric Guilleminault: Okay.
Eric Guilleminault: For the audience that who doesn’t know you, this is a good chance to tell them who are you as a person?
Mohamed Diawara: Yeah, I mean, I’m a chill guy. I’m not a guy who will talk a lot. I mean, if I know you, I’m going to talk to you. If I don’t know you, I’m going to be more like, uh, personal. But I’m, I’m just a chill guy. For real. I like to laugh. I’m a funny guy. And, yeah, really a chill.
I think, the best word to describe me, chill.
Eric Guilleminault: Chill.
Mohamed Diawara: Mm-hmm.
Eric Guilleminault: Okay. Well thank you for your time.
Mohamed Diawara: No, problem. Thanks
You can find full YouTube Video Here: https://youtu.be/5uAYwwWKokg
