While the injury to Zach Collins, absent for two to four weeks, will complicate the situation for the rotation of Gregg Popovich at position 5, the Spurs have just announced reinforcement of the Guinean interior Mamadi Diakite (26 years old, 2.06m). Signed via a “two-way contract”he comes to digitally replace Charles Bediako, cut after a tear of the anterior cruciate ligament of the left knee.
While he has played so far in the G-League this season, with the Westchester Knicks (8.8 points and 5.9 rebounds on average), the former Virginia resident could therefore quickly be put to work within the first team, given of the Spurs' delicate situation, especially since Victor Wembanyama remains under minutes restriction and is still deprived of “back-to-back”.
This will be a new opportunity for Mamadi Diakité to show himself after having played with the Bucks, the Thunder and the Cavaliers for a total of 49 NBA games played in his career.
Two-way contract : Designed to create a new bridge between the NBA and the G-League, this type of contract allows each team to secure the services of two or three additional players, to develop them mainly in their affiliated development league franchise but also up to 50 matches in the NBA.
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
