The New York Knicks will enter the upcoming season with sky-high expectations following their 2026 NBA Finals victory over Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs.
Stars like Karl-Anthony Towns, Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and Game 4 hero OG Anunoby will receive a great deal of attention, while impactful bench players like Jose Alvarado, Miles McBride, Jordan Clarkson, and Landry Shamet will garner the most attention of the reserves.
Outside of the obvious contributors, there is one Knick who could once again offer the kind of promise that will leave fans and pundits wondering if New York’s depth could become an even more critical part of their title defense.
Mohamed Diawara showed impressive flashes during his rookie campaign with the Knicks, and his increased understanding of how to properly prepare himself combined with his diverse skill set and unique standing on the roster makes him a prime candidate to break out.
“Now I know the physicality I need for this league, how I need to prepare my body,” Diawara told SNY earlier this month. “I still look a lot to those vets, just helping me with a routine to get ready for this new year.”
Mohamed Diawara will make the most of his minutes for the Knicks
From a physical standpoint, the 21-year-old is a scout’s dream. At 6-foot-9 and 225 pounds, Diawara has the perfect dimensions to be a versatile forward who can shoot, finish at the rim in transition, and be a useful defender.
The Paris native’s offseason work might pay dividends. If his body is in a better place, it would be fair to expect a jump in his productivity and confidence.
“Last year, you could see he was a little jittery when he was out there, because he didn't know what to do,” Knicks head coach Mike Brown said. “His cadence is better, he has a better feel not only for what he should do, but what his teammates should be doing. He's one of those players who needs to take a step forward.”
Across 69 games in his rookie slate, Diawara averaged 9.2 minutes, 3.6 points, 1.4 rebounds, 0.8 assists, and 0.2 steals. These marks do not jump off the stat sheet by any stretch, but a look at some of the youngster’s better showings provides a better view of what his ceiling could be.
During a late December contest against the New Orleans Pelicans, Diawara tallied a career-high 18 points on a 7-of-9 shooting clip that included four made 3-pointers across roughly 17 minutes. In February, he enjoyed a similarly effective performance that saw him put up 14 points, swipe five rebounds, and dish out two assists over 20 minutes.
Article Continues BelowOf course, Diwara’s two best showings are not Infallible signs that he will transform into an All-Star so early in his NBA career, but they do illustrate exactly why many in the Knicks’ front office have been bullish on his chances.
Other individuals like McBride, Shamet, and Alvarado will certainly receive the bulk of playing time off the bench, but it could be argued that the sophomore forward fills a different need that may allow Brown to experiment with different combinations over a long
Diawara offers more size than any of the aforementioned names. While his jumper and situational awareness are both a work in progress, it would be shocking to see a player with his physical dimensions find minutes one way or another.
It remains to be seen if these pockets will offer enough time for Diawara to become a regular contributor, but there could be a path for him to make a surprising leap.