Moussa Diabate had an undeniable impact on the Charlotte Hornets' rousing win against the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday, despite falling one rebound short of a double-double. Perhaps the most impressive part of his performance was the fact that he scored 13 on 5-7 shooting, and two of his field goals showed his soft touch around the rim.
With over two minutes left in the first quarter, Diabate sank a hook shot eight feet from out off a Tre Mann pass. Then, in the second quarter, he unleashed a floater just outside of the painted area before hitting a similar shot in the third period a few steps from the free-throw line. His two other makes were a dunk and a layup in transition.
It's clear that the French big man's repertoire has expanded after what looked like a productive offseason. In the past, his offensive bag consisted primarily of setting hard screens and running the rim. However, if he manages to show that his soft touch is not a one-time thing, defenses will have to plan for him accordingly whenever they match up against the Hornets.
Hopefully, Diabate's offense holds up throughout the rest of the season, as Charlotte will need him to be consistently productive if it wants to remain competitive, even if a playoff appearance still looks like a pipe dream for the squad.
Hornets' offensive scheme is a great fit for Diabate
The good news is that Hornets coach Charles Lee appears to trust the 23-year-old center completely. So, fans should continue to see him play more often than he did in the 2024-25 campaign. Buzz City's win against Brooklyn saw Ryan Kalkbrenner spend more minutes on the floor, although there might be games where Diabate has a higher playing time, especially if the opponent has a big guy equipped with a quick first step or long-range shooting.
Offensively, Diabate might even prove to be the better fit for the Hornets, who finally showed what they can do when they play a fast pace. With "Moose" running the break anytime he gets the chance, their odds of putting up more fastbreak points increase. His ability to make floaters and hook shots should also allow him to play off Charlotte's playmakers pretty well.
It's just the first game of the season, and Diabate — and the Hornets, in general — have to show that their offensive explosion on Wednesday is not a fluke.