Boris Diaw

From 2001 to 2003, Diaw played for Pau-Orthez of the LNB Pro A, a French professional basketball league. In 2002, he competed in the league's All-Star game and the Slam Dunk contest.

Diaw was selected by the Atlanta Hawks with the 21st overall pick in the 2003 NBA draft. On July 10, 2003, he signed a multi-year deal with the Hawks.

In August 2005, he was traded with two future first-round picks to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for future teammate Joe Johnson.{{cite web |title=Johnson Trade to Atlanta Completed |work=NBA.com |url=http://www.nba.com/suns/news/johnson_traded_050819.html |date=August 19, 2005 |access-date=June 16, 2014}}

In Phoenix, Diaw blossomed into an all-round player, playing any position from center to point guard and garnered the nickname "3D" because of his multidimensional play (his motto being "drive, dish, defend") and the combination of his number (3) and surname. Diaw averaged 13.3 points, 6.9 rebounds, 6.2 assists and 1.0 blocks per game on 52.6% field goal shooting and 73.1% from the free throw line in the 2005–06 season where he played both forward positions and then center after injuries to Amar'e Stoudemire and Kurt Thomas.

During the 2006 NBA playoffs, as the Suns' starting center, Diaw averaged 18.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 1.1 blocks per game. In Game 1 of the 2006 Western Conference Finals against the Dallas Mavericks, Diaw scored a career-high 34 points, including the game-winner with 0.5 seconds remaining in regulation, to help the Suns to a 121–118 victory, although Phoenix would go on the lose the series in six games.

File:Boris diaw bobcats.jpg

On December 10, 2008, Diaw, along with Raja Bell and Sean Singletary, was traded to the Charlotte Bobcats in exchange for Jason Richardson and Jared Dudley.{{cite web |title=Suns trade Bell, Diaw for Bobcats' Richardson |work=NBA.com |url=http://www.nba.com/2008/news/12/10/sunsbobcats.trade.ap/index.html |date=December 18, 2008 |access-date=June 16, 2014}}

On September 28, 2011, Diaw signed with JSA Bordeaux of France for the duration the 2011 NBA lockout.[http://www.sportando.com/en/europe/france/88519/boris-diaw-officially-signs-for-jsa-bordeaux.html Boris Diaw officially signs for JSA Bordeaux] In December 2011, he returned to the Charlotte Bobcats.

On March 21, 2012, Diaw was waived by the Bobcats.{{cite web |title=Bobcats waive Boris Diaw |work=ESPN.com |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/7717314/charlotte-bobcats-waive-boris-diaw-agreeing-contract-buyout |date=March 21, 2012 |access-date=June 16, 2014}}

Two days later, he signed with the San Antonio Spurs for the rest of the season.[https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/7729120/san-antonio-spurs-get-boris-diaw-day-release-charlotte-bobcats Boris Diaw signed by Spurs]

On July 12, 2012, Diaw re-signed with the Spurs[http://www.nba.com/spurs/news/120712_diaw Spurs Re-Sign Boris Diaw] to a reported two-year, $9.2 million deal. Diaw helped the Spurs reach the 2013 NBA Finals where they faced the Miami Heat. San Antonio lost the series in seven games.

File:Boris Diaw Spurs.jpg

On June 15, 2014, Diaw won his first NBA championship after the Spurs defeated the Miami Heat 4–1 in the 2014 NBA Finals. He was inserted into the starting lineup beginning with Game 3, and he led all players in the series in total assists (29) and was second in total rebounds (43) behind teammate Tim Duncan (50). Diaw averaged 35 minutes per game in the Finals, an increase of over 10 minutes from the regular season.{{cite news |last=Abrams |first=Jonathan |title=Mon Frère Boris |date=June 16, 2014 |work=Grantland.com |url=http://grantland.com/features/boris-diaw-tony-parker-san-antonio-spurs-nba-playoffs-2014/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140624033637/http://grantland.com/features/boris-diaw-tony-parker-san-antonio-spurs-nba-playoffs-2014/ |archive-date=June 24, 2014 |url-status=live }}

On July 15, 2014, Diaw re-signed with the Spurs[http://www.nba.com/spurs/spurs-re-sign-boris-diaw SPURS RE-SIGN BORIS DIAW] to a reported three-year, $22 million contract.[http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/234144/Boris-Diaw-Agrees-To-Three-Year-$22M-Deal-With-Spurs Boris Diaw Agrees To Three-Year, $22M Deal With Spurs]

On August 1, 2015, Diaw played for Team Africa at the 2015 NBA Africa exhibition game.[https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/13359599/nba-current-former-stars-put-show-africa-exhibition NBA stars, legends shine as Team World rallies to beat Team Africa]

On July 8, 2016, Diaw was traded, along with a 2022 second-round pick and cash considerations, to the Utah Jazz in exchange for the rights to Olivier Hanlan.{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/jazz/news/jazz-acquire-boris-diaw-and-draft-pick-spurs|title=Jazz Acquire Boris Diaw and Draft Pick from Spurs|work=NBA.com|date=July 8, 2016|access-date=July 8, 2016}} In early November 2016, Diaw missed eight games with a right leg contusion.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/recap?gameId=400899601|title=Marc Gasol scores 22 points, Grizzlies beat Jazz 102-96|work=ESPN.com|date=November 14, 2016|access-date=November 15, 2016}} On July 13, 2017, he was waived by the Jazz.{{cite news|title=Jazz Waive Boris Diaw|url=http://www.nba.com/jazz/jazz-waive-boris-diaw|access-date=July 13, 2017|work=NBA.com|date=July 13, 2017}}

On September 17, 2017, Diaw signed with the Levallois Metropolitans, a French team, for the 2017–18 season.{{cite news|title=Boris Diaw officially signs with Levallois Metropolitans|url=http://www.sportando.com/en/france/pro-a/247147/boris-diaw-officially-signs-with-levallois-metropolitans.html|access-date=September 17, 2017|work=Sportando.com|date=September 17, 2017}} With Levallois, he played in the LNB Pro A and EuroCup. He averaged 11.1 points, 6.4 rebounds in 31.2 minutes per game in 31 Pro A games.{{cite web|url=https://basketball.realgm.com/player/Boris-Diaw/Summary/459|title=Boris Diaw Player Profile|work=Realgm.com|access-date=13 July 2019}}

Diaw announced his retirement via his Twitter account on September 6, 2018.{{cite web |last1=Wells |first1=Adam |title=Boris Diaw Retires at Age 36; Played with Spurs, Suns, Hornets, Hawks, Jazz |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2794533-boris-diaw-retires-at-age-36-played-with-spurs-suns-hornets-hawks-jazz |website=BleacherReport.com |access-date=September 6, 2018}}

{{NBA player statistics legend|champion=y|leader=y}}

{{NBA player statistics start}}

|-

| align="left" | {{nbay|2003}}

| align="left" | Atlanta

| 76 || 37 || 25.3 || .447 || .231 || .602 || 4.5 || 2.4 || .8 || .5 || 4.5

|-

| align="left" | {{nbay|2004}}

| align="left" | Atlanta

| 66 || 25 || 18.2 || .422 || .180 || .740 || 2.6 || 2.3 || .6 || .3 || 4.8

|-

| align="left" | {{nbay|2005}}

| align="left" | Phoenix

| 81 || 70 || 35.5 || .526 || .267 || .731 || 6.9 || 6.2 || .7 || 1.0 || 13.3

|-

| align="left" | {{nbay|2006}}

| align="left" | Phoenix

| 73 || 59 || 31.1 || .538 || .333 || .683 || 4.3 || 4.8 || .4 || .5 || 9.7

|-

| align="left" | {{nbay|2007}}

| align="left" | Phoenix

| style="background:#cfecec;"| 82* || 19 || 28.1 || .477 || .317 || .744 || 4.6 || 3.9 || .7 || .5 || 8.8

|-

| align="left" | {{nbay|2008}}

| align="left" | Phoenix

| 22 || 0 || 24.5 || .567 || .357 || .692 || 3.8 || 2.1 || .5 || .4 || 8.3

|-

| align="left" | {{nbay|2008}}

| align="left" | Charlotte

| 59 || 59 || 37.6 || .495 || .419 || .686 || 5.9 || 4.9 || .8 || .7 || 15.1

|-

| align="left" | {{nbay|2009}}

| align="left" | Charlotte

| style="background:#cfecec;"| 82* || style="background:#cfecec;"| 82* || 35.4 || .483 || .320 || .769 || 5.2 || 4.0 || .7 || .7 || 11.3

|-

| align="left" | {{nbay|2010}}

| align="left" | Charlotte

| 82 || style="background:#cfecec;"| 82* || 33.9 || .492 || .345 || .683 || 5.0 || 4.1 || .9 || .6 || 11.3

|-

| align="left" | {{nbay|2011}}

| align="left" | Charlotte

| 37 || 28 || 27.5 || .410 || .267 || .630 || 5.3 || 4.3 || .5 || .5 || 7.4

|-

| align="left" | {{nbay|2011}}

| align="left" | San Antonio

| 20 || 7 || 20.3 || .588 || .615 || .625 || 4.3 || 2.4 || .7 || .3 || 4.7

|-

| align="left" | {{nbay|2012}}

| align="left" | San Antonio

| 75 || 20 || 22.8 || .539 || .385 || .723 || 3.4 || 2.4 || .7 || .4 || 5.8

|-

| style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;"| {{nbay|2013}}†

| align="left" | San Antonio

| 79 || 24 || 25.0 || .521 || .402 || .739 || 4.1 || 2.8 || .6 || .4 || 9.1

|-

| style="text-align:left;" | {{nbay|2014}}

| style="text-align:left;" | San Antonio

| 81 || 15 || 24.5 || .460 || .320 || .774 || 4.3 || 2.9 || .4 || .3 || 8.7

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2015}}

| style="text-align:left;"| San Antonio

| 76 || 4 || 18.2 || .527 || .362 || .737 || 3.1 || 2.3 || .3 || .3 || 6.4

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2016}}

| style="text-align:left;"| Utah

| 73 || 33 || 17.6 || .446 || .247 || .743 || 2.2 || 2.3 || .2 || .1 || 4.6

|- class="sortbottom"

| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2" | Career

| 1064 || 564 || 27.0 || .493 || .336 || .717 || 4.4 || 3.5 || .6 || .5 || 8.6

{{S-end}}

{{NBA player statistics start}}

|-

| align="left" | 2006

| align="left" | Phoenix

| 20 || 20 || 39.8 || .526 || .429 || .761 || 6.7 || 5.2 || .9 || 1.1 || 18.7

|-

| align="left" | 2007

| align="left" | Phoenix

| 10 || 0 || 23.5 || .475 || .000 || .667 || 3.2 || 3.0 || .7 || .2 || 6.6

|-

| align="left" | 2008

| align="left" | Phoenix

| 5 || 2 || 35.6 || .547 || .000 || .500 || 5.6 || 4.6 || .6 || .8 || 14.6

|-

| align="left" | 2010

| align="left" | Charlotte

| 4 || 4 || 38.0 || .500 || .111 || .500 || 5.0 || 4.0 || .3 || .8 || 7.5

|-

| align="left" | 2012

| align="left" | San Antonio

| 14 || 14 || 24.7 || .514 || .500 || .750 || 5.2 || 2.5 || .8 || .3 || 6.2

|-

| align="left" | 2013

| align="left" | San Antonio

| 16 || 1 || 17.1 || .444 || .385 || .857 || 2.5 || 1.8 || .3 || .2 || 4.1

|-

| style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;"| 2014†

| align="left" | San Antonio

| 23 || 3 || 26.3 || .500 || .400 || .688 || 4.9 || 3.4 || .6 || .1 || 9.2

|-

| align="left" | 2015

| align="left" | San Antonio

| 7 || 0 || 28.3 || .479 || .222 || .692 || 6.1 || 3.6 || .7 || .4 || 11.6

|-

| align="left" | 2016

| align="left" | San Antonio

| 9 || 0 || 17.7 || .457 || .333 || .750 || 2.1 || 2.3 || .2 || .4 || 5.2

|-

| align="left" | 2017

| align="left" | Utah

| 11 || 9 || 18.4 || .500 || .429 || .900 || 1.9 || 2.0 || .6 || .4 || 5.7

|- class="sortbottom"

| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2" | Career

| 119 || 53 || 26.4 || .504 || .336 || .736 || 4.4 || 3.2 || .6 || .4 || 9.2

{{S-end}}

File:Boris Diaw 2015.jpg

In 2000, Diaw won the FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship with the French junior national team. In July 2006, Diaw was named the captain of the senior men's French national basketball team. He won the bronze medal at the EuroBasket 2005.

Diaw led the French team at the 2006 FIBA World Championship, with 107 points and 22 assists, in 9 games. In 2013, Diaw and the French team won the gold medal at the EuroBasket tournament. The following year, he led the national team without its star Tony Parker to the bronze medal in the 2014 FIBA World Cup.

At {{height|ft=6|in=8}} and {{Convert|250|lb|kg|abbr=unit}}, Diaw was a natural forward. However, his passing skills and ability to score inside earned him a reputation for being capable of playing all positions well. Diaw began the 2005–06 season as a reserve, substituted at point guard when starting point guard Steve Nash was injured, started at small forward, and was finally moved to center when all three Suns centers were injured. Diaw's breakout season (13.3 points, 6.9 rebounds and 6.2 assists per game) was recognized with the Most Improved Player Award. Diaw was lauded for his unselfish but assertive play.{{Cite web|last=Duffy|first=Thomas|title=Gregg Popovich Misses Jazz F Boris Diaw as a Wine Drinking Partner|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2703722-gregg-popovich-misses-jazz-f-boris-diaw-as-a-wine-drinking-partner|access-date=2021-11-22|website=Bleacher Report|language=en}}^,{{Cite web|last=DewNO|date=2013-12-12|title=Diaw's cool is crazy; his crazy is cool|url=https://www.poundingtherock.com/2013/12/12/5200582/boris-diaw-pass-assist-shoot-crazy-cool|access-date=2021-11-22|website=Pounding The Rock|language=en}}

While somewhat overshadowed by the Spurs 'Big Three' of Duncan, Parker and Ginobili, Diaw played a crucial role in the team's success. His excellent passing and playmaking abilities made him a prototype of what came to be known as the point forward position, exhibited by players such as Luka Dončić and to a lesser degree by LeBron James and Nikola Jokić.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nba/news/boris-diaw-suns-terry-porter-shoot-story/6r1nelxd7vkj1rfaofkhokmce|title = Boris Diaw tells incredible story about arguing with Suns coach Terry Porter, then refusing to shoot | Sporting News| date=12 August 2021 }} Diaw was also an efficient post scorer and athletic scorer, capable of going coast-to-coast before either finding a teammate or finishing at the rim. In addition, his ability to play multiple positions made him a precursor to the current era of small ball teams and positionless basketball.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sbnation.com/2017/9/14/16308110/boris-diaw-retirement-best-moments-suns-spurs-cappuccino-france|title = 13 reasons NBA fans should never stop loving Boris Diaw|date = 14 September 2017}}

In 2009, Diaw became vice-president and shareholder of the JSA Bordeaux basketball club in his native France and took over as president one year later. In 2017, he stepped down as president of the club.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bebasket.fr/championnat-nm2/boris-diaw-annonce-son-retrait-des-jsa-bordeaux.html|title=Boris Diaw annonce son retrait des JSA Bordeaux|website=BeBasket|date=15 March 2017|language=fr|access-date=2017-03-17}}

In 2010, he founded UKIND, an eco-responsible clothing brand.

On July 4, 2019, Diaw was announced as the new president of Metropolitans 92, succeeding Jean-Pierre Aubry.{{cite web|url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Basket/Actualites/Jeep-elite-boris-diaw-officiellement-president-des-metropolitans-92/1036887|title=Jeep Élite : Boris Diaw officiellement président des Metropolitans 92 - Basket - Jeep Elite|work=L'Équipe|access-date=12 July 2019}} He resigned in April 2020.{{Cite web |date=2020-04-27 |title=Boris Diaw quitte déjà la présidence des Métropolitans 92 |url=https://www.20minutes.fr/sport/2768567-20200427-boris-diaw-quitte-deja-presidence-metropolitans-92 |access-date=2024-11-28 |website=www.20minutes.fr |language=fr}}

Diaw's {{height|ft=6|in=2}} mother, Élisabeth Riffiod, is regarded as one of the best centers in French women's basketball history. She is a member of the French Basketball Hall of Fame. Diaw's father, Issa Diaw, is a former Senegalese high jump champion. Diaw has a half-brother, Paco Diaw, who was a guard at Georgia Tech,{{Cite web |url=http://www.ramblinwreck.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/diaw_paco00.html |title=Paco Diaw Bio |access-date=2014-06-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140725175649/http://www.ramblinwreck.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/diaw_paco00.html |archive-date=2014-07-25 |url-status=dead }} but transferred to Lee University, a small NAIA school in the Southern States Athletic Conference. His other brother, Martin Diaw, played basketball for Division II's California University of Pennsylvania.[http://www.nba.com/hawks/news/diaw_courtside_feature_031216.html Hawks Strike Gold with Diaw] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050311175929/http://www.nba.com/hawks/news/diaw_courtside_feature_031216.html |date=March 11, 2005 }}

Diaw and fellow French NBA star and Spurs teammate Tony Parker are long-time friends and former roommates. Diaw was the best man at Parker's wedding to actress Eva Longoria.{{cite web |url=http://nba.aolsportsblog.com/2007/05/08/boris-diaw-are-you-ready-to-be-tony-parkers-best-man/ |title=Boris Diaw, Are You Ready to Be Tony Parker's Best Man? |work=aolsportsblog.com |date=May 8, 2007 |access-date=May 12, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130117082546/http://nba.aolsportsblog.com/2007/05/08/boris-diaw-are-you-ready-to-be-tony-parkers-best-man/ |archive-date=January 17, 2013 }}

In 2005, Diaw established a non-profit foundation, Babac'Ards, to organize sports activities for Senegalese youth and aid "developmental education".{{cite web|url=http://www.iwg-gti.org/catalyst/february-2011/babac-ards-empowering-women-girl/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140722070858/http://www.iwg-gti.org/catalyst/february-2011/babac-ards-empowering-women-girl/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 22, 2014 |title=Babac'Ards - Empowering women & girls in Senegal through sport |work=iwg-gti.org |access-date=June 16, 2014 }}

Diaw is known to have a passion for photography, sailing, and wine tasting.{{cite news | title=Boris Diaw a worldwide photographer | work=ESPN | date=March 28, 2012 | url=https://www.espn.com/blog/playbook/visuals/post/_/id/56/boris-diaw-a-worldwide-photographer | last=Manahan | first=Theresa }}{{cite news | title=Boris Diaw's new web series where he sails across the Atlantic is a delight | work=SB Nation | date=January 2, 2019 | url=https://www.sbnation.com/lookit/2019/1/2/18165330/boris-diaw-transatlantic-sailing-web-series-video | last=Dator | first=James }}{{cite news | last=Wong | first=Alex | title=Boris Diaw, the Frenchiest Dude in the NBA, Is Down to Go to Mars | date=October 27, 2016 | url=https://www.gq.com/story/boris-diaw-interview | work=GQ }}

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{{Commons category|Boris Diaw}}

• {{Basketball stats |nba=2564 |bbr=d/diawbo01}}
• [http://www.interbasket.net/players/diaw.htm Boris Diaw] at interbasket.net
• {{Olympedia}}
• {{Olympics.com profile}}
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Category:1982 births

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