Mohamed Diawara Is Quietly Earning His Minutes - And the Knicks Are Taking Notice
It’s All-Star Weekend, and while the league takes a breather, the conversations around promising young talent don’t stop. One name that’s starting to bubble up in those conversations?
Mohamed Diawara. The Knicks’ rookie forward is still flying under the radar, but within the organization, there’s a growing sense that he might be carving out something real.
Mike Brown Sees the Subtleties
Kings head coach Mike Brown, who’s had a front-row seat to Diawara’s early development, didn’t hold back when asked about the 6-foot-8 forward’s upside.
“There’s just a lot of little things when you see Mo play that make you go, ‘Oh my gosh, wow,’” Brown said. “When you add all those things up, it gives you more confidence as a coaching staff to throw him out there and say, ‘OK, let’s see what’s going to happen.’”
That’s not just coach-speak. Brown’s praise came layered with specifics.
Diawara’s instincts, especially for a young player his size, are already ahead of schedule. “His feel for the game is uncanny,” Brown added.
“Everything you try to teach him, he tries to absorb it and works very hard. He’s long, a pretty good defender - and getting better.”
That blend of physical tools and mental sharpness is why the coaching staff is giving him a longer leash. Not to run the show, but to make reads, play within the system, and execute the little things that win possessions.
Offensive Freedom - Within Reason
Brown was also clear about how Diawara fits into the offensive flow. He’s not being asked to create like a star, but the green light is there - in the right moments.
“If you’re wide open, let that thing fly. If not, try to touch the paint and kick it out,” Brown explained. “He doesn’t have the leeway that obviously the other cats on the floor have to go create a shot for himself.”
Still, Diawara’s passing instincts are turning heads. “He has a pretty good feel of where his open teammate is,” Brown said. “If he touches that paint, that pass is getting there on time, on target, and it’s like a laser.”
That’s the kind of trust that doesn’t come easy for rookies. But Diawara’s combination of size, vision, and decision-making is earning him more responsibility - especially in drive-and-kick situations where his height and court awareness can shine.
Diawara’s Mindset: Specialize and Stick
Diawara’s approach to his NBA future is refreshingly grounded. He knows what it takes to stay in the league, and he’s already zeroed in on the blueprint.
“I felt like if I wanted to have a long career in the NBA, I had to be good at something,” Diawara said. “Three-point shooting and defense. Those are things that are going to make me stay in the league for the longest.”
That’s not just talk - it’s showing up in his work. He trusts his process, and the confidence is real.
“Because I trust my work,” he said. “And I’m not working for nothing.”
From the Locker Room: Teammates Are Buying In
Veteran guard Josh Hart has been around enough young players to know when one is worth watching. His take on Diawara? The rookie’s ahead of the curve.
“In camp, I thought he was going to be real good,” Hart said. “He’s young, raw, and inexperienced.
He’s good defensively, and he’s an even better shooter than I thought. It always looked good, but now it’s going in.”
Hart also pointed out Diawara’s decision-making in tight spaces - a key skill for any modern wing. “I think he’s a good decision-maker in the pocket.
He’s athletic and can finish at the rim, get guys involved. I love where he’s at, and he’s continued to work.”
And as for his integration into the team culture? That’s coming along too. Hart noted that since the departure of fellow French speaker Guerschon Yabusele, Diawara has started to come out of his shell more.
“All he did was speak French to him,” Hart said. “Now that [Yabusele] is gone, hopefully that forces him to come out of [his] shell a little bit more.
He’s part of the guys. We’ve got to get him more acclimated to rookie duties.”
Diawara’s Journey: From Soccer to the Hardwood
Diawara didn’t grow up dreaming of NBA stardom. In fact, basketball wasn’t even his first love. But once he found it, he knew it was the right fit.
“I was like, ‘That’s the perfect match,’” he said of choosing basketball over soccer.
And while he never got the chance to share the court with his sister - who played before he picked up the game - Diawara’s path has been uniquely his own. He’s not chasing someone else’s legacy. He’s building his own, one rotation minute at a time.
Karl-Anthony Towns Reflects
Amid the All-Star break’s lighter atmosphere, Karl-Anthony Towns shared a poignant memory about his mother and her courtside ritual during his early playing days.
“She made it her thing to stand next to the stanchion and just wave at me,” Towns said. “It felt great, being your mom’s there, nothing can be wrong. She got me.”
It was a heartfelt reminder that behind every player - rookie or veteran - there’s a story, a family, and a journey that goes far beyond the box score.
As the Knicks head into the second half of the season, the spotlight may be on the stars, but keep an eye on Diawara. He’s not flashy.
He’s not loud. But he’s putting in the work, making the right reads, and slowly earning trust in a league that doesn’t hand it out easily.
That’s how you stick.