Charlotte Hornets center Moussa Diabate has declined an invitation to rejoin France’s national team for EuroBasket 2025, opting instead to prepare for the upcoming NBA season.
According to French outlet BeBasket, head coach Frédéric Fauthoux contacted the 23-year-old on August 8 after center Vincent Poirier withdrew from the tournament with a knee injury. Diabate, who had been cut earlier in the month, consulted his representatives before turning down the offer.
The 6’11” big man is entering a pivotal year with Charlotte. His minimum-salary deal for 2025-26 is non-guaranteed, and the Hornets currently have 18 players on standard contracts, 16 of them guaranteed. Diabate averaged 5.7 points and 6.3 rebounds while shooting 59.6 percent from the field in 71 games last season, earning a regular spot in head coach Steve Clifford’s rotation at 17.5 minutes per game.
France finalized its 12-man roster on Sunday, trimming Poirier and Paris Basketball guard Nadir Hifi. The squad is expected to feature Théo Maledon, Sylvain Francisco, Elie Okobo, Isaïa Cordinier, Matthew Strazel, Zaccharie Risacher, Bilal Coulibaly, Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot, Guerschon Yabusele, Jaylen Hoard, Alex Sarr and Mouhammadou Jaiteh. Four players—Risacher (Hawks), Coulibaly (Wizards), Yabusele (Knicks) and Sarr (Wizards)—are currently on NBA rosters, while several others have previous NBA experience.
Source: Hoops Rumors
