Hornets are learning what Clippers never knew about Moussa Diabate

It wasn't all that long ago that news broke of the Charlotte Hornets signing Moussa Diabate to a two-way contract. Los Angeles Clippers were sad to see their former player go, but they didn't think they were missing out on anything considerable. Now, the perception of who Diabate is as a player has changed completely, and the Hornets are learning what Clippers fans never got to find out about Moussa.

Sadly, the Clippers now have a massive amount of FOMO that grows more with each passing day as they see how Diabate is dominating in Charlotte this season. LA never got to see Moussa truly grow and thrive, and Hornets fans are now learning that he's a total game-changer on the interior.

Number 14 has been an absolute revelation for a Charlotte team that's on the rise. He just finished putting up 18 points and 19 rebounds against the Grizzlies on Wednesday. When the Hornets first inked him to a two-way deal back in the summer of 2024, it was seen as a low-risk addition, with the expectation that maybe he could provide some relief to centers Mark Williams and Nick Richards in the upcoming season in spurts.

Moussa Diabate has become a game-changing player

Instead, what has happened has been Diabate blossoming into a true star and making his claim to the starting center spot positively undeniable. It began with him earning spotty playing time and doing nothing more than hustling his tail off in the time that he was able to get on the floor.

Hornets fans watched as Moussa dove on the floor for the ball, snatched rebounds out of opposing players' hands, and looked like the hardest-working player on the hardwood every single night. He quickly became the type of player that an announcer talks about and says, "One thing is for sure: You may be more talented than him, but you will never outwork Moussa Diabate."

As this happened, Clippers fans were left wondering where this was when he was living in Southern California. They understand that part of it was always due to Ty Lue feeling like he had to run a more veteran-laden rotation and wasn't able to give out minutes to a lot of young guys. But that doesn't make Diabate's rise to stardom in Charlotte any less painful.

Now, watching a Hornets game or even just highlights can be a dangerous risk for those who love the Clippers. His situation is another reminder of how fragile player development can be in the NBA. A lot of times, it's not simply about talent, and the players that find themselves with the right opportunity at the right time are going to shine. Now, the Clippers are left watching from afar, wondering what could have been.