Mamadi Diakite Bio
Mamadi Diakite (born January 21, 1997) is a Guinean professional basketball player who currently plays for Saski Baskonia of the Spanish Liga ACB and the EuroLeague. Standing 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) and weighing 228 lb (103 kg), he plays the center and power forward positions. He is widely recognized for winning an NCAA national championship with the Virginia Cavaliers in 2019 and an NBA championship with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2021.
Early Life and Background
Mamadi Diakite was born in Conakry, Guinea, to Aboubacar Sidiki Diakite and Aminata Kaba, and he was raised as a Muslim. His father served as the health inspector general of Guinea, while his mother worked as an obstetrician. Growing up, Diakite played soccer in the streets and parks of his hometown before turning to basketball because of his height and natural athleticism.
Because organized basketball opportunities were limited in Guinea, Diakite tried to draw the attention of coaches in the United States by posting on Facebook. The effort worked: Hassan Fofana, a Guinea native and former college basketball player, reached out and helped him enroll at Blue Ridge School, a boarding school in Saint George, Virginia. When he first arrived in the United States, Diakite spoke only French.
Path to Basketball
Diakite enrolled at Blue Ridge School in early 2014 and quickly adjusted to life in Virginia. He played two seasons of basketball there and also earned varsity letters in track and field and soccer, since the school required students to play a sport each season. As a senior, he averaged 12 points, eight rebounds, and four blocks per game, leading his team to the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association (VISAA) Division II state title and a Virginia Independent Conference (VIC) championship. He was named a consensus four-star recruit and the top prospect in the state of Virginia.
On August 4, 2015, Diakite committed to play for the University of Virginia, turning down offers from several other NCAA Division I programs, including Baylor, USC, and Washington. After committing, he reclassified to the class of 2015 and redshirted his first college season in 2015–16 to prepare his body and adjust to college life.
Mamadi Diakite Career
Early Career at Virginia (2016–2019)
Diakite made his Virginia debut on November 15, 2016, recording eight points and four rebounds in a 72–32 win over St. Francis Brooklyn. Through 32 games as a redshirt freshman, he averaged 3.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game. As a redshirt sophomore, he matched his career high with 12 points against Vanderbilt and Syracuse, finishing the year with averages of 5.4 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 0.5 blocks across 34 games.
His role grew significantly as a redshirt junior in 2018–19. He set a new career high of 18 points on November 16, 2018, against Coppin State, and tied it on January 9, 2019, against Boston College. Diakite became a central figure during Virginia’s 2019 NCAA tournament run, recording 14 points, seven rebounds, and four blocks in an 80–75 overtime win over Purdue in the Elite Eight after hitting a buzzer-beater to force overtime. Virginia went on to defeat Auburn in the Final Four and Texas Tech in overtime 85–77 to claim its first-ever national championship, with Diakite contributing 9 points and 7 rebounds in the title game.
Senior Season and NBA Entry (2019–2020)
Diakite declared for the 2019 NBA draft after winning the national championship but withdrew before the deadline to return for his senior season. He opened 2019–20 with a career-high 19 points and 13 rebounds against James Madison on November 10, then matched the 19-point mark against Vermont. He later set a new career high of 21 points in a loss to South Carolina on December 22, and at year’s end he was named to the Second Team All-ACC.
Following his senior season, Diakite went undrafted in the 2020 NBA draft.
Milwaukee Bucks (2020–2021)
On November 24, 2020, Diakite signed a two-way contract with the Milwaukee Bucks. When the Wisconsin Herd opted not to play the 2020–21 G League season, he was assigned to the Lakeland Magic, where he debuted on February 11, 2021. Across 12 games with Lakeland, he averaged 18.5 points, 10.3 rebounds, 2.1 blocks, and 2.1 assists in 27.7 minutes, earning All-NBA G League First Team, NBA G League All-Defensive Team, and NBA G League All-Rookie Team honors while winning the G League title.
On April 21, 2021, Diakite signed a multi-year standard NBA contract after appearing in 11 games with the Bucks, and he won the NBA championship that season as a rookie. He was waived by Milwaukee on September 24, 2021.
Oklahoma City Thunder (2021–2022)
On September 26, 2021, Diakite was claimed off waivers by the Oklahoma City Thunder but was waived on October 16. He later signed a series of 10-day contracts with the Thunder in January 2022 before being released on February 9, 2022, to open a roster spot for KZ Okpala.
Cleveland Cavaliers and Charge (2022–2023)
Diakite signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers on September 26, 2022, was briefly waived, and then re-signed to a two-way contract. He appeared in 22 games with two starts, including a notable defensive performance against NBA MVP Joel Embiid. He also spent time with the Cleveland Charge, the team’s G League affiliate.
Westchester Knicks and New York Knicks (2023–2024)
After a brief stint signing with the New York Knicks in October 2023, Diakite was waived and joined the Westchester Knicks for the 2023–24 G League season. He later signed two-way contracts with the San Antonio Spurs in early 2024 and was waived on March 2. On March 6, 2024, he returned to the Westchester Knicks and signed 10-day and rest-of-season deals with the New York Knicks in March 2024.
Baskonia Era (2025–Present)
After being traded to the Brooklyn Nets and then the Memphis Grizzlies in July 2024, and waived on August 27, 2024, Diakite signed with the Phoenix Suns in September 2024. He was waived and joined the Valley Suns in October 2024. On August 18, 2025, he signed with Saski Baskonia on a two-year contract running through the summer of 2027.
Driving Style and Strengths
Diakite is regarded for his size, shot-blocking ability, and rebounding, traits that earned him All-NBA G League Defensive Team recognition in 2021.
Notable Events and Milestones
His signature moments include the buzzer-beating shot against Purdue in the 2019 Elite Eight, the 2021 NBA championship with Milwaukee, and the 2021 NBA G League title with Lakeland.
Mamadi Diakite Career Wins
Mamadi Diakite has collected multiple championships across college, NBA, and G League levels.
Championship Highlights
Diakite won the 2019 NCAA national championship with Virginia, the 2021 NBA championship with the Milwaukee Bucks, the 2021 NBA G League championship with the Lakeland Magic, and the 2023 NBA G League Showcase Cup championship. He also won a Spanish Cup with Baskonia in 2026.
Other Achievements
He earned Second-team All-ACC honors in 2020, All-NBA G League First Team, NBA G League All-Defensive Team, and NBA G League All-Rookie Team in 2021.
Mamadi Diakite Family
Family Background
Diakite is the son of Aboubacar Sidiki Diakite, the former health inspector general of Guinea who helped lead his country’s response to the West African Ebola virus epidemic in 2014 in association with the World Health Organization, and Aminata Kaba, an obstetrician.
Personal Life
Diakite speaks French, Maninka, Susu, and Fula fluently, and he began learning English upon arriving in the United States. At the University of Virginia, he majored in French and minored in Global Culture and Commerce. In February 2019, he dyed his hair gold as a tribute to his youth soccer days in Guinea.
2025 Season Performance
In 2025, Mamadi Diakite began a new chapter in his career after signing with Saski Baskonia on August 18, 2025. The move to Spain placed him on a two-year contract through 2027 across both Liga ACB and EuroLeague competition. Early in his Baskonia tenure, he contributed to the team’s Spanish Cup win in 2026.
The transition to European basketball marks a significant step after several G League seasons and brief NBA stops, offering Diakite the opportunity to serve as a frontline player at the professional level. His combination of size, shot-blocking, and rebounding fits the physical style of European competition.
Looking ahead, Diakite is positioned to be a key contributor for Baskonia through 2027, with the chance to compete in both domestic and continental competitions while continuing his development as a veteran center.