Boris Diaw facts for kids
Diaw with the San Antonio Spurs in 2015
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| Metropolitans 92 | |
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| President | |
| Personal information | |
| Born | 16 April 1982 Cormeilles-en-Parisis, Val-d'Oise, France |
| High school | INSEP (Paris, France) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) |
| Listed weight | 250 lb (113 kg) |
| Career information | |
| NBA Draft | 2003 / Round: 1 / Pick: 21st overall |
| Selected by the Atlanta Hawks | |
| Pro career | 2001–2018 |
| League | LNB Pro A |
| Career history | |
| 1998–2000 | Centre Fédéral |
| 2000–2003 | Pau-Orthez |
| 2003–2005 | Atlanta Hawks |
| 2005–2008 | Phoenix Suns |
| 2008–2012 | Charlotte Bobcats |
| 2011 | JSA Bordeaux |
| 2012–2016 | San Antonio Spurs |
| 2016–2017 | Utah Jazz |
| 2017–2018 | Levallois Metropolitans |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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Medals
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Boris Diaw (born April 16, 1982) is a French basketball expert and former player. He is currently the president of Metropolitans 92, a team in France's top basketball league, LNB Pro A. Boris played basketball for 14 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA) in the United States.
He mostly played as a power forward. In 2006, Boris was named the NBA's Most Improved Player. This award goes to the player who has shown the most improvement from the previous season. He also won an NBA championship with the San Antonio Spurs in 2014. Boris was a key player and captain for the French national team. He won several medals, including a gold medal at the 2013 EuroBasket tournament.
Contents
- Boris Diaw's Basketball Journey
- Playing for Pau-Orthez (2001–2003)
- Joining the Atlanta Hawks (2003–2005)
- Becoming a Star with the Phoenix Suns (2005–2008)
- Time with the Charlotte Bobcats (2008–2012)
- Winning a Championship with the San Antonio Spurs (2012–2016)
- Playing for the Utah Jazz (2016–2017)
- Return to France with Levallois Metropolitans (2017–2018)
- Retirement from Playing
- Boris Diaw's NBA Statistics
- Playing for the French National Team
- Boris Diaw's Playing Style
- Life After Playing Basketball
- Family Life
- Images for kids
- See also
Boris Diaw's Basketball Journey
Boris Diaw started his basketball career in France. He then moved to the NBA, the biggest basketball league in the world. After many successful years, he returned to play in France before retiring.
Playing for Pau-Orthez (2001–2003)
From 2001 to 2003, Boris played for a French team called Pau-Orthez. This team is part of the LNB Pro A league. In 2002, he was chosen to play in the league's All-Star game. He also took part in the Slam Dunk contest, showing off his athletic skills.
Joining the Atlanta Hawks (2003–2005)
In 2003, Boris Diaw was picked by the Atlanta Hawks in the NBA draft. He was the 21st player chosen overall. On July 10, 2003, he signed his first big contract with the Hawks.
Becoming a Star with the Phoenix Suns (2005–2008)
In August 2005, Boris was traded to the Phoenix Suns. This is where he really started to shine. He became known as an all-around player. He could play almost any position on the court, from center to point guard.
He even got the nickname "3D" because of his many skills. This nickname stood for "drive, dish, defend." It also came from his jersey number, which was 3. In the 2005–06 season, Boris averaged 13.3 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 6.2 assists per game. He played very well, especially when other players were injured.
During the 2006 NBA playoffs, Boris was the starting center for the Suns. He scored a career-high 34 points in one game against the Dallas Mavericks. He even made the winning shot with less than a second left!
Time with the Charlotte Bobcats (2008–2012)
On December 10, 2008, Boris was traded to the Charlotte Bobcats. He played there for several seasons. In 2011, during an NBA lockout (when players and teams couldn't agree on rules), Boris went back to France. He played for a team called JSA Bordeaux. When the lockout ended, he returned to the Charlotte Bobcats. He left the Bobcats in March 2012.
Winning a Championship with the San Antonio Spurs (2012–2016)
Just two days after leaving the Bobcats, Boris signed with the San Antonio Spurs. He quickly became an important part of their team. In 2013, he helped the Spurs reach the NBA Finals. They played against the Miami Heat but lost in a very close series.
On June 15, 2014, Boris Diaw achieved a huge goal: he won his first NBA championship! The Spurs defeated the Miami Heat 4-1 in the 2014 NBA Finals. Boris was a key player in this series. He led all players in total assists and was second in total rebounds. He played much more time in the Finals than he did during the regular season.
After winning the championship, Boris signed a new contract with the Spurs. In 2015, he also played in the NBA Africa exhibition game.
Playing for the Utah Jazz (2016–2017)
On July 8, 2016, Boris was traded to the Utah Jazz. He played one season with them. In November 2016, he missed some games due to a leg injury. The Jazz released him in July 2017.
Return to France with Levallois Metropolitans (2017–2018)
On September 17, 2017, Boris signed with the Levallois Metropolitans, a French team. He played in both the LNB Pro A and EuroCup competitions. He averaged 11.1 points and 6.4 rebounds per game in the French league.
Retirement from Playing
Boris Diaw officially announced he was retiring from playing basketball on September 6, 2018.
Boris Diaw's NBA Statistics
Boris played 1064 regular season games in the NBA. He averaged 8.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game. In the playoffs, he played 119 games, averaging 9.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 3.2 assists.
Playing for the French National Team
In 2000, Boris Diaw won the 2000 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship with France's junior national team. In July 2006, he became the captain of the senior French national basketball team. He helped his country win many medals.
- He won a bronze medal at the EuroBasket 2005.
- In 2013, Boris and the French team won the gold medal at the EuroBasket tournament. This was a huge win for France!
- The next year, in 2014, he led the national team to a bronze medal at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup. This was special because their star player, Tony Parker, was not with them.
Boris Diaw's Playing Style
Boris Diaw was 6 feet 8 inches tall and weighed 250 pounds. He was naturally a forward, but he was very skilled. His amazing passing and ability to score close to the basket meant he could play almost any position. He was known for being unselfish and always looking to help his teammates.
He was a great example of a "point forward." This is a player who can handle the ball and pass like a point guard, but also score and rebound like a forward. Players like Luka Dončić and Nikola Jokić are also known for this style today. Boris could also score well from close range and even dribble the ball the full length of the court to score. His ability to play many positions made him a pioneer for today's "small ball" teams, where players are versatile and not stuck in one role.
Life After Playing Basketball
After his playing career, Boris Diaw continued to be involved in basketball.
Basketball Executive Role
In 2009, Boris became a vice-president and part-owner of the JSA Bordeaux basketball club in France. He became the president of the club a year later. He stepped down from this role in 2017.
On July 4, 2019, Boris Diaw was announced as the new president of Metropolitans 92, another French basketball team. He held this position until April 2020.
Other Interests
In 2010, Boris started his own eco-friendly clothing brand called UKIND. He also has a non-profit foundation called Babac'Ards. This foundation helps organize sports activities for young people in Senegal and supports their education. Boris is also known for his hobbies, which include photography, sailing, and trying different wines.
Family Life
Boris Diaw comes from a family of athletes. His mother, Élisabeth Riffiod, is 6 feet 2 inches tall and was one of the best centers in French women's basketball history. She is even in the French Basketball Hall of Fame. His father, Issa Diaw, was a champion high jumper from Senegal. Boris also has two half-brothers who played college basketball in the United States.
Boris was good friends with his former Spurs teammate and fellow French NBA star, Tony Parker. They were even roommates for a while. Boris was the best man at Tony Parker's wedding to actress Eva Longoria.
Images for kids
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Diaw with the San Antonio Spurs in 2015
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Diaw with the Bobcats in 2009
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Diaw playing for the Spurs in 2014
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Diaw playing for France in 2015.
See also
In Spanish: Boris Diaw para niños
