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 Babacar Diaw-Riffiod (born April 16, 1982), known as Boris Diaw, is a French basketball expert. He used to be a professional basketball player. Today, he is the president of Metropolitans 92, a team in France's top basketball league, LNB Pro A.
Diaw started his basketball journey in France. After playing 14 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA) in the United States, he returned to play in France. He mostly played as a power forward. In 2006, he was named the NBA's Most Improved Player while playing for the Phoenix Suns. He achieved a big dream by winning an NBA championship with the San Antonio Spurs in 2014.
Boris Diaw was also a key player and captain for the senior French national team. He helped his country win several medals: a bronze medal at the FIBA World Cup in 2014, a gold medal at the EuroBasket in 2013, a silver medal in 2011, and two bronze medals in 2005 and 2015.
Contents
- Playing Basketball: Boris Diaw's Career
- Starting in France: Pau-Orthez (2001–2003)
- First NBA Team: Atlanta Hawks (2003–2005)
- Shining Bright: Phoenix Suns (2005–2008)
- Moving On: Charlotte Bobcats (2008–2012)
- NBA Champion: San Antonio Spurs (2012–2016)
- Final NBA Stop: Utah Jazz (2016–2017)
- Back to France: Levallois Metropolitans (2017–2018)
- Saying Goodbye to Playing: Retirement
- Playing for France: National Team Career
- How Boris Diaw Played
- After Playing: Executive Career
- Boris Diaw's Life Off the Court
- See also
Playing Basketball: Boris Diaw's Career
Starting in France: Pau-Orthez (2001–2003)
From 2001 to 2003, Boris Diaw played for Pau-Orthez in the LNB Pro A, which is France's top professional basketball league. During this time, he was chosen to play in the league's All-Star game. He also took part in the Slam Dunk contest.
First NBA Team: Atlanta Hawks (2003–2005)
Boris Diaw was picked by the Atlanta Hawks as the 21st player in the 2003 NBA draft. This was his first step into the NBA. He signed a contract with the Hawks in July 2003.
Shining Bright: Phoenix Suns (2005–2008)
In August 2005, Diaw was traded to the Phoenix Suns. This is where his career really took off. He became known as "3D" because he could do so many things on the court: "drive, dish, defend." He could play almost any position, from center to point guard.
During the 2005–06 season, Diaw played amazingly well. He averaged 13.3 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 6.2 assists per game. Because of his great improvement, he won the NBA Most Improved Player Award in 2006. In the 2006 NBA playoffs, he even scored a career-high 34 points in one game.
Moving On: Charlotte Bobcats (2008–2012)
In December 2008, Diaw was traded to the Charlotte Bobcats. He continued to play a big role for his team. During an NBA lockout in 2011, he briefly played for a team in France called JSA Bordeaux. He returned to the Bobcats later that year. In March 2012, he left the Bobcats.
NBA Champion: San Antonio Spurs (2012–2016)
Just two days after leaving the Bobcats, Diaw joined the San Antonio Spurs. This was a great move for him. He helped the Spurs reach the 2013 NBA Finals in 2013, but they lost that series.
However, in 2014, Diaw and the Spurs made it back to the 2014 NBA Finals. This time, they won! They defeated the Miami Heat, and Boris Diaw earned his first NBA championship ring. He played a huge part in their victory, leading all players in total assists during the Finals. He also grabbed a lot of rebounds.
Diaw continued to play for the Spurs until 2016. In 2015, he even played in the NBA Africa exhibition game.
Final NBA Stop: Utah Jazz (2016–2017)
In July 2016, Diaw was traded to the Utah Jazz. He played one season with them before being released in July 2017.
Back to France: Levallois Metropolitans (2017–2018)
In September 2017, Boris Diaw signed with the Levallois Metropolitans, a French team. He played in both the French league and the EuroCup. He averaged 11.1 points and 6.4 rebounds per game.
Saying Goodbye to Playing: Retirement
Boris Diaw announced that he was retiring from playing basketball on September 6, 2018.
Playing for France: National Team Career
Boris Diaw has had a very successful career playing for the French national team.
- In 2000, he won the FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship with the French junior team.
- In July 2006, he became the captain of the senior men's French national team.
- He won a bronze medal at the EuroBasket 2005.
- In 2013, Diaw and the French team won the gold medal at the EuroBasket tournament.
- The next year, in 2014, he helped lead the national team to a bronze medal in the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup.
How Boris Diaw Played
Boris Diaw was 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) tall and weighed 250 lb (110 kg). Even though he was a natural forward, he was known for his amazing passing skills. He could also score well close to the basket. This meant he could play almost any position on the court.
He was praised for being unselfish and always looking to help his team. He was also very good at passing the ball, which made him a "point forward." This is a player who can handle the ball and set up plays like a point guard, even though they play a forward position. He could also score in many ways and was athletic enough to run the full length of the court. His ability to play many positions helped teams play "small ball," which is a style of play that uses smaller, faster players.
After Playing: Executive Career
Boris Diaw has also worked in basketball management.
- In 2009, he became a vice-president and part-owner of the JSA Bordeaux basketball club in France.
- A year later, he became the president of the club. He stepped down from this role in 2017.
- In 2010, he started his own clothing brand called UKIND, which focuses on being good for the environment.
- In July 2019, Diaw became the new president of Metropolitans 92, another French basketball team. He left this position in April 2020.
Boris Diaw's Life Off the Court
Boris Diaw comes from a family of athletes.
- His mother, Élisabeth Riffiod, was a famous French women's basketball player. She is 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.
Diaw is good friends with his former Spurs teammate, Tony Parker, who is also a French NBA star. Boris was even the best man at Tony Parker's wedding.
In 2005, Diaw started a non-profit group called Babac'Ards. This foundation helps organize sports activities for young people in Senegal and supports education.
Outside of basketball, Boris Diaw loves photography, sailing, and trying different wines.
See also
In Spanish: Boris Diaw para niños
- List of European basketball players in the United States
