Wes & Walker- Moussa Diabate

Hornets forward Moussa Diabate joins the show to talk about the start to the season for team, where he has grown the most personally in his career and the possible return of LaMelo to the lineup.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
We will talk Hornets right now with our next guest
on the on the on the body Works Plus Guest Hotline.
Our good friend Musa Diabate joins us here from the
Charlotte Hornets as they get ready to take on the
Milwaukee Bucks tonight in Wisconsin. What's going on, Musa? What
pologic back here in Charlotte? How are you pale?

Speaker 2 (00:15):
Good, good, good in you? How you guys going?

Speaker 1 (00:17):
We're doing well.

Speaker 2 (00:18):
Man.

Speaker 1 (00:18):
The start of the season obviously has been a little
bit up and down, but a big win on Wednesdy night.
How do you feel like the start of your year
is gone?

Speaker 2 (00:26):
I think it's been going all right. I think you know, oversee,
there's always things to improve. By the end of the day,
I'm pretty satisfied. I always say that I got to
keep it going.

Speaker 1 (00:35):
Absolutely. When it comes to you guys on the front line.
When they brought in Ryan Kulkbrenner, when they brought in
Mason Plumley, I know you've got to be sitting there saying,
you know, they're reshaping my room, They're reshaping things in
this team. How did you take it from a motivational
standpoint that, hey, they're bringing in two new guys, but
they're selling you on the fact that each of you

(00:56):
three can do all different.

Speaker 2 (00:57):
Things, right, I mean, you know, like you said, you know,
we all can do different things and very good at it.
I think that, like you know, we compliment each other
very well, and I think that's that's the most important
thing right at the end of day. I don't think
there's an ego going on, and I think we understand
each other and we all want to win and that's
the most important thing. So yeah, I mean, overall, for me,

(01:18):
it was I was very excited. I think it's a
very interesting plan that our coach has and line up
that he want to do, and you know he's able to,
you know, switch it up whenever he wants to and
have a different aspect on what he what do you
want to try and do it on offense or defense?
So I mean it's it's great.

Speaker 1 (01:37):
What what does not only having the guys around you,
but even just the newness of what you have with
this roster, the rookies, some of the new veterans. Colin Sexton,
what's new about year two under Charles Lee? Then maybe
was different with gear number.

Speaker 2 (01:53):
One, hmm. Interesting. I'll stay just like I think I
wouldn't say charge you more specifically, but I think as
a team, there's a better understanding of our identity. I
think we understand more so how we want to plan,
what we want to do, and what we want to accomplish.
For his last year, I think we were kind of
like in the mix of, you know, trying to figure

(02:15):
out everything, like he was a whole new staff, and
you know, I think it takes time, you know, And
so right now I think like we're definitely defining our
our identity even more so.

Speaker 1 (02:26):
Do you guys tease calk Brenner a lot about how
very very close to one he is in field goal percentage? Like,
do you guys give him a little a little bit
of a flak when he misses one?

Speaker 2 (02:38):
And I mean, like you said, he doesn't miss but
so you know, we understand, you know, he's a human
at the end of day. But man, that man got
gold in hands for real.

Speaker 1 (02:46):
I would be certainly appreciate that.

Speaker 2 (02:48):
Uh.

Speaker 1 (02:49):
I like seeing the two of you out there together.
I know that was a lineup that that Charles has
floated out there in about two or three games this season.
What is uh, what is your role? How does that
change when the two of you are on the floor together.

Speaker 2 (03:03):
I think it doesn't change much in the sense that, like,
you know, I'm still gonna bring the things that I'm bringing.
It's most so you know, it's just understanding, like you know, now, okay,
if I'm sitting the screen, I got to be able
to make the read because now you have the dunker,
the corner or the wing that's gonna be open. So
it's just understanding, you know, like wherever they got to
make and you know, off my placement. I think it

(03:24):
very much on placement, But defensively overall, I think it
doesn't change much because I can I can pretty much
guard the guards and I don't have no problem with that.
But yes, it's mostly offensively, just you know, understanding what
placements you got to be in.

Speaker 1 (03:37):
But yeah, mussadaboute joining us here as we get you
ready for Hornets and Bucks tonight NBA Cup game. Obviously,
you know they're trying to do these things here in
the NBA to try and give increased value to the
regular season. Do you guys kind of talk about that
as a team in terms of, hey, you know, it's
an opportunity to win a trophy of time to potentially

(03:59):
get something that might be a little bit above and
beyond what you guys are playing for in the regular
season and toward the playoffs.

Speaker 2 (04:05):
Right, yep, I agree completely. Definitely is.

Speaker 1 (04:10):
In in terms of where you guys sit in this season.
You guys might very well get LaMelo ball back tonight.
How much will that help you guys?

Speaker 2 (04:18):
Tremendously? I think overseas like he's he's our main point guard.
It's definitely gonna be a game changer and I mean
be very excited for him to come back.

Speaker 1 (04:29):
So, yeah, this is year four for you in the league,
Musa in terms of what your role has become and
how your role has changed. How have you matured and
what have you noticed change maybe as you get more
experience with this league?

Speaker 2 (04:46):
What has changed? Well? First off, yeah, I mean it's
you know, over the years you get to learn a
lot of things and a lot of things happened. But
I would say what has changed just I think, like
mom is ending of the business side of it. I
think at the end of the day, like oversee, basketball
is basketball, and it's that's that's what counts. The court counts.

(05:08):
But as well of like you know, it's just being
professional outside of the basketball court, right, you know, treating
people right, understanding that, like you know, sometimes there's things
going on that might that you might not be able
to control, and still being able to say a professional
in those cases.

Speaker 1 (05:23):
So yeah, I know that there are people who look
at this team and say, hey, you know that they
are a trendy pick. They are a trendy you know,
upstart of a team that could potentially begin to upset
the apple cart with how wide open the East is,
how much do you feel maybe a shift change around
this team saying hey, you know what, this could be
the year that we actually turn the corner.

Speaker 2 (05:44):
Now for sure, I think like we definitely are one
of them teams that can definitely show and surprise people,
you know, like you said, you know, like at the
end of the day, like the East is definitely more
so there's a lot of good teams, but also a
lot of opportunities there. So I mean, we we're very
excited and also I think that like we have a
chance for sure, and guys, we will show that. That

(06:05):
will show that.

Speaker 1 (06:07):
With respect to tonight, Musa, you guys take on a
Milwaukee team that you saw on Wednesday, but obviously they
are a much different team with Giannis into the compo
than without and looks like we will see him tonight. Uh.
How how differently does that change you? How differently does
that motivate you? Knowing that you will see Giannis potentially
on the other side tonight.

Speaker 2 (06:25):
I mean it's great. You know, at the end of
the day, we comfort we're trying to compete, and you know,
them having a food team and you know, trying to
play them is always another opportunity to get a win
and you know, you know, prove people. So for us,
I mean, you know, we excited. Whether he's hearing or not,
it doesn't matter. At the end of the day, we're
just trying to play it and get a win.

Speaker 1 (06:45):
We're hoping you guys do that and hoping you also
come home tomorrow for a big game against the defending
champion in Oklahoma City Thunder and take care of business
there as well. Musadiabata, Charlotte Hornet Center, appreciate the time, pal,
Good luck tonight and rest of the way.

Speaker 2 (06:58):
Thank you.