By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Mamadi Diakite was hospitalized with a high fever on Saturday. He has since been discharged but is considered questionable for Baskonia for the start of the 2025-26 schedule.
With health issues monitored by the medical staff of the team based in Vitoria-Gasteiz, a specific recovery timeline is yet to be announced. Being cleared to resume practices and, therefore, debut with his new team depends on further evaluation and upon determining the exact cause of the recent setback.
The 28-year-old forward/center joined Baskonia in August, signing a two-year contract. Besides his move to the EuroLeague club, his offseason also featured his debut with the senior national team of Guinea. He tallied 13.3 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 2.3 blocks, and 1.7 steals per contest over four appearances in FIBA AfroBasket 2025.
He went on to participate in preseason preparations of Baskonia, heading to the 2025-26 edition of the EuroLeague and Spain’s Liga Endesa, until being admitted to a hospital in Vigo. Approaching official fixtures, the team coached by Paolo Galbiati will start the new season in Europe’s premier club continental competition by hosting Olympiacos in Fernando Buesa Arena on Tuesday and visiting LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne at LDLC Arena next Friday, before opening the ACB schedule with a road game against Casademont Zaragoza on October 5.
Back in 2020, Diakite launched his professional career as an undrafted rookie coming out of Virginia and an NCAA championship in 2019. He logged 66 games played in the NBA from the 2020-21 championship team of the Milwaukee Bucks to later spells with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Cleveland Cavaliers, San Antonio Spurs, and New York Knicks.
Photo Credit: FIBA