.jpg) Diallo playing for the Pelicans in 2017 | |
| No. 33 – Taoyuan Taiwan Beer Leopards | |
|---|---|
| Position | Center /power forward |
| League | Taiwan Professional Basketball League |
| Personal information | |
| Born | (1996-09-13)September 13, 1996 (age 29) Kayes, Mali |
| Listed height | 203 cm (6 ft 8 in) |
| Listed weight | 99 kg (218 lb) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Our Savior New American School (Centereach, New York) |
| College | Kansas (2015–2016) |
| NBA draft | 2016: 2nd round, 33rd overall pick |
| Drafted by | Los Angeles Clippers |
| Playing career | 2016–present |
| Career history | |
| 2016–2019 | New Orleans Pelicans |
| 2016 | →Austin Spurs |
| 2017 | →Long Island Nets |
| 2017 | →Greensboro Swarm |
| 2019–2020 | Phoenix Suns |
| 2021 | Avtodor Saratov |
| 2021 | Fuenlabrada |
| 2021 | Motor City Cruise |
| 2021–2022 | Detroit Pistons |
| 2022 | Motor City Cruise |
| 2022 | Cangrejeros de Santurce |
| 2022–2023 | Kyoto Hannaryz |
| 2023 | Cangrejeros de Santurce |
| 2023 | Sioux Falls Skyforce |
| 2023–2024 | Kyoto Hannaryz |
| 2024 | Osos de Manatí |
| 2024–2025 | Converge FiberXers |
| 2025 | Osos de Manatí |
| 2025–present | Taoyuan Taiwan Beer Leopards |
| Career highlights | |
| |
Stats at NBA.com  | |
| Stats atBasketball Reference | |
Cheick Tidiane Diallo[1] (born September 13, 1996) is a Malian professionalbasketball player for theTaoyuan Taiwan Beer Leopards of theTaiwan Professional Basketball League (TPBL). Diallo was a five-star recruit and the MVP (Most Valuable Player) of the2015 McDonald's All-American Boys Game. He played one season ofcollege basketball for theKansas Jayhawks before declaring for the2016 NBA draft, where he was selected with the 33rd overall pick by theLos Angeles Clippers.
Diallo was born and raised inKayes, Mali. It took approximately 15 hours to drive from his hometown toBamako, the country's capital city. He was the youngest in his family and had five brothers. He often played basketball with his older friends and family which brought out his skills. Diallo moved to the United States in February 2012 in pursuit of a basketball career. He was not fluent in the English language at the time. He recalled the time, "It was so tough. I left my parents, my friends, my brothers, everything, just to come here."[2] Diallo began playing basketball in 2010.[2]
Through its international program, Diallo began attending Our Savior New American School inCentereach, New York. He played withChris Obekpa in his freshman season and, at first, was dominated by the fellow African big man. Diallo said, "I didn't know what I was doing. I couldn't make a point. [Obekpa] blocked me every time."[2] In later seasons, he became more effective for his team and attracted attention through his shot-blocking, rebounding, and versatility. Diallo was invited to theNBPA Top 100 camp in 2013 and went on to become its first MVP from Africa.[2][3] As a junior in 2014, he averaged 18.5 points, 11.2 rebounds, and 4.0 blocks per game while leading his team to a 28–3 record and a division championship. As a senior, Diallo averaged 17.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per game. Diallo was named MVP of the2015 McDonald's All-American Boys Game after scoring 18 points and 10 rebounds leading the East team to a 111–91 win over the West.[4] Diallo was also named MVP of the 2015Jordan Brand Classic, tallied 26 points and 11 rebounds. Diallo was rated as a five-star recruit and ranked as the No. 7 overall recruit and No. 3 power forward in the 2015 high school class.[5] On April 28, 2015, Diallo committed toKansas.[6]
Diallo missed the first five games of his freshman season withKansas after the NCAA failed to clear him to play due to eligibility concerns.[7] On November 25, 2015, he was cleared to play for the Jayhawks in their game againstLoyola on December 1, after the NCAA ultimately ruled Diallo had received a limited amount of impermissible benefits.[8][9] In his lone season at Kansas, Diallo averaged 3.0 points and 2.5 rebounds in 7.5 minutes per game.
In April 2016, Diallo declared for theNBA draft, forgoing his final three years of college eligibility.[10] In May 2016, at theNBA Draft Combine, Diallo registered a 7-foot-4½-inch wingspan and an 8-foot-11½-inch standing reach.[11]
On June 23, 2016, Diallo was selected by theLos Angeles Clippers with the 33rd overall pick in2016 NBA draft.[12] Diallo was traded to theNew Orleans Pelicans later that night.[12][13] On July 22, 2016, he signed with the Pelicans after averaging 10.2 points, 9.4 rebounds and 2.2 blocks in fiveSummer League games.[14] He made his NBA debut on October 29, 2016, recording one rebound and one block in six minutes off the bench in the Pelicans' 98–79 loss to theSan Antonio Spurs.[15] Diallo played in just two games for a total of seven minutes over the Pelicans' first 23 games of the season.[16] Diallo was the first Pelicans player to wear #13 after its reactivation by the team, the number having previously been retired forBobby Phills.[17]
On December 10, 2016, he played in just under 31 minutes off the bench and scored 19 points in the Pelicans' 133–105 loss to theLos Angeles Clippers.[18] He also recorded 10 rebounds and shot 8-of-15 from the field.[16] On April 11, 2017, he scored 19 points in a 108–96 loss to theLos Angeles Lakers.[19] The following day, in the Pelicans' season finale, Diallo had 12 points and 16 rebounds in a 103–100 win over thePortland Trail Blazers.[20] During his rookie season, he had multiple assignments with theAustin Spurs,Long Island Nets andGreensboro Swarm of theNBA Development League, pursuant to the flexible assignment rule.[21]
On March 9, 2018, Diallo scored a season-high 14 points in a 116–97 loss to theWashington Wizards.[22] On March 18, 2018, he set a new season high with 17 points in a 108–89 win over theBoston Celtics.[23]
On February 6, 2019, Diallo scored a season-high 18 points in a 125–120 win over theChicago Bulls.[24] On February 22, he had 16 points and a career-high 18 rebounds in a 126–111 loss to theIndiana Pacers.[25] Diallo matched his season high of 18 points with perfect shooting in a 128–115 win over theLos Angeles Lakers on February 23.[26]
On July 23, 2019, thePhoenix Suns signed Diallo to a two-year contract.[27] On November 24, Diallo scored a career-high 22 points in a 114–102 loss to theDenver Nuggets.[28]
On February 2, 2021, Diallo signed withAvtodor Saratov of theVTB United League.[29]
On April 14, 2021, Diallo signed withFuenlabrada of the SpanishLiga ACB.[30]
On November 8, 2021, Diallo signed with theMotor City Cruise of theNBA G League.[31] In 13 games, he averaged 14.4 points on 71.4% shooting and 8.5 rebounds in 21.7 minutes per game.[32]
On December 23, 2021, Diallo signed a 10-day contract with theDetroit Pistons via the hardship exemption[32] and after his expired, he was re-acquired by Motor City.[33]
On May 1, 2022, Diallo signed with theCangrejeros de Santurce of theBSN.[34]
On July 26, 2022, Diallo signed withKyoto Hannaryz of the JapaneseB.League.[35]
On May 26, 2023, Diallo re-signed with theCangrejeros de Santurce of theBSN.[36]
On September 27, 2023, Diallo signed with theMiami Heat,[37] but was waived on October 21, prior to the start of the 2023–24 season.[38] On October 30, he joined theSioux Falls Skyforce,[39] but left the team on November 16.[40]
On November 30, 2023, Diallo returned toKyoto Hannaryz.[41]
On May 25, 2024, Diallo signed with theOsos de Manatí of theBaloncesto Superior Nacional.[42] He had a great season individually, often leading the team in scoring, and the Osos reached the BSN finals for the first time in their history. They would lose 3–4, however, against theCriollos de Caguas.
On October 30, 2024, Diallo signed with theConverge FiberXers of thePhilippine Basketball Association (PBA) as the team's import for the2024–25 PBA Commissioner's Cup.[43]
On August 12, 2025, Diallo signed with theTaoyuan Taiwan Beer Leopards of theTaiwan Professional Basketball League (TPBL).[44]
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016–17 | New Orleans | 17 | 0 | 11.7 | .474 | – | .714 | 4.3 | .2 | .2 | .4 | 5.1 |
| 2017–18 | New Orleans | 52 | 0 | 11.2 | .580 | – | .758 | 4.1 | .4 | .2 | .4 | 4.9 |
| 2018–19 | New Orleans | 64 | 1 | 14.0 | .620 | .250 | .746 | 5.2 | .5 | .5 | .5 | 6.0 |
| 2019–20 | Phoenix | 47 | 2 | 10.2 | .648 | .333 | .872 | 2.8 | .5 | .2 | .3 | 4.7 |
| 2021–22 | Detroit | 3 | 0 | 10.2 | .375 | – | .833 | 4.0 | .0 | .3 | .0 | 3.7 |
| Career | 183 | 3 | 11.9 | .596 | .286 | .774 | 4.1 | .4 | .3 | .4 | 5.2 | |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | New Orleans | 7 | 0 | 6.9 | .417 | – | – | 1.3 | .0 | .1 | .1 | 1.4 |
| Career | 7 | 0 | 6.9 | .417 | – | – | 1.3 | .0 | .1 | .1 | 1.4 | |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015–16 | Kansas | 27 | 1 | 7.5 | .569 | – | .556 | 2.5 | .0 | .3 | .9 | 3.0 |
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