Moussa Diabate’s Impact Is No Longer a Secret in Charlotte
Before the Hornets tipped off against the Warriors on Saturday night, head coach Charles Lee made one thing clear: they were going to miss Moussa Diabate. And not just in a “he’s a nice piece off the bench” kind of way. Lee didn’t hold back when he described Diabate’s motor, comparing it to none other than Ben Wallace and Dennis Rodman - two of the most relentless, no-days-off defenders the league has ever seen.
That’s high praise, especially for a young big still carving out his place in the league. But if you’ve been watching Charlotte lately, it’s not hard to see why Lee is so bullish on Diabate’s upside.
"I've never seen a guy play that hard, that long, that consistently for a whole game," Lee said. "Ben Wallace comes to mind."
Now, let’s be real - Diabate isn’t Wallace. Not yet.
But the comparison isn’t about accolades. It’s about effort.
It’s about the kind of energy that changes the tone of a game, even if the box score doesn’t scream superstar. Diabate brings that kind of juice, and when he’s not on the floor, the Hornets feel it.
Lee also pointed to Diabate’s work on the offensive glass, and here’s where the Rodman comparison enters the chat.
“What he does on the offensive glass is Dennis Rodman-like. He's unbelievable. He's a joy to watch, and we'll miss him tonight.”
That wasn’t just coach-speak. It proved prophetic.
Missing Moose in the Bay
The Hornets got steamrolled by the Warriors in San Francisco. Golden State dropped 136 points on the night, hitting 23 threes in the process. Charlotte’s defense had no answers for the barrage - and you have to wonder how different things could’ve looked with Diabate in the mix.
To their credit, the Hornets did manage to hold Stephen Curry to just 14 points, employing some unconventional defensive looks that clearly threw him off rhythm. But the Warriors didn’t blink.
Instead, they leaned into their depth, with eight players scoring in double figures. Draymond Green even poured in 20 - a rare offensive outburst from the veteran forward.
Would Diabate’s presence have flipped the result? Probably not.
But would the Hornets have been more competitive? Absolutely.
His ability to switch onto guards, fight through screens, and contest without fouling is exactly what you need against a team like Golden State. Add in his rebounding - particularly on the offensive end - and it’s easy to see how Charlotte might’ve kept things tighter.
Kon Knueppel gave it everything he had, pulling down 11 boards, including four on the offensive glass. But without Diabate, the Hornets struggled to control the paint and gave up too many second-chance opportunities.
A Different Story in Denver
Fast forward to Sunday in Denver, and the Hornets looked like a completely different team - and not just because Diabate was back in uniform.
Charlotte’s defense came out locked in. It took the Nuggets seven minutes just to crack double digits, and with a little over a minute left in the first quarter, they had only 13 points on the board. The Hornets held Denver to 18 in the first and just 16 in the second, setting the tone with physicality, pace, and effort.
Now, it wasn’t just Diabate. Denver was missing some key guys, and Charlotte’s tempo clearly caught them off guard.
But the French big man’s fingerprints were all over this one. His rebounding, his defensive awareness, his ability to cover ground - it all helped the Hornets dictate terms.
Not Wallace or Rodman - But the Mold Fits
Let’s not get carried away. Diabate isn’t heading to the Hall of Fame tomorrow. But when your head coach is name-dropping two of the most iconic defenders in NBA history, it’s worth paying attention.
Diabate doesn’t need to become Wallace or Rodman to be a game-changer in Charlotte. He just needs to keep doing what he’s already doing - playing with relentless energy, crashing the glass like it’s personal, and anchoring a young team that’s still figuring out how to win.
If he keeps trending in this direction, the Hornets may have found themselves a foundational piece - one who doesn’t need the ball to make a massive impact.
And in today’s NBA, that kind of player is worth his weight in gold.