Ilimane Diop

Ilimane Diop Gaye (born 4 April 1995) is a professional basketball player for Unicaja of the Spanish Liga ACB. Although he was born in Senegal, Diop officially represents Spain when being on international duty since he was a baby when his family settled in Spain.[1] Previously, he has led their junior teams to multiple bronze medals.[2]

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Diop and the second or maternal family name is Gaye.
Ilimane Diop
Diop for Baskonia in 2017
No. 21 – Unicaja
PositionCenter
LeagueLiga ACB
Personal information
Born (1995-04-04) 4 April 1995
Dakar, Senegal
NationalitySenegalese / Spanish
Listed height6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
Listed weight230 lb (104 kg)
Career information
NBA draft2017: undrafted
Playing career2011–present
Career history
2011–2021Baskonia
2011–2012→Álava
2012–2013→Araberri
2021–2022Gran Canaria
2022–2023UCAM Murcia
2023–presentUnicaja
Career highlights and awards
  • ACB champion (2020)
Medals
Men's basketball
Representing  Spain
FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship
Bronze medal – third place 2013 Latvia Spain
FIBA Europe Under-16 Championship
Bronze medal – third place 2011 Czech Republic Spain

Professional career

A product of Spanish powerhouse Saski Baskonia, Diop was sent out on loan to minor league team to gain playing time and experience. He made his debut for Baskonia in the Spanish top-flight Liga ACB in the course of the 2013-14 campaign.

An early entry candidate for the 2016 NBA draft, he later withdrew his name.[3]

On July 10, 2021, he has signed with Gran Canaria of the Spanish Liga ACB.[4]

On July 5, 2022, Gran Canaria released Diop.[5]

On July 13, 2022, he has signed with UCAM Murcia in the Liga ACB.[6]

On August 20, 2023, he signed with Unicaja of the Spanish Liga ACB.[7]

International career

After achieving a bronze medal with the under-16 team and the under-18 team, on 11 July 2016, Diop made his debut with the national team in a friendly game played in Burgos against Angola. He scored four points and grabbed three rebounds to collaborate in the win by 85–61.[8]

Player profile

Standing 6'11" with a wingspan of 7'11" feet, Diop is regarded as one of the most potent players in the Liga ACB and possibly a future NBA draft selection. Length has been an inevitable problem for his opponents, who have struggled against the pick-and-roll and rebounds.[9] He is also noted for his raw talent that could grow into a "great basketball body." Balance, footwork, and strength have remained intangibles for the center.[10]

Personal life

His brother Mamadou is also a basketball player who previously played in the same Spanish basketball squad as he did.

References
  1. "Ilimane Diop Player Profile". Eurobasket.com. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
  2. "Ilimane Diop Player Profile". RealGM.com. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
  3. Release, Official. "Thirty-three international early-entry candidates withdraw from Draft". NBA.com. Archived from the original on 19 March 2019. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  4. "Herbalife Gran Canaria ink Ilimane Diop". Sportando. 10 July 2021. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
  5. "Pustovyi, Ennis, Diop y López finalizan su etapa en el Gran Canaria". Club Baloncesto Gran Canaria (in Spanish). 8 July 2022. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
  6. "Ilimane Diop, músculo para el UCAM Murcia CB". ucamdeportes.com (in Spanish). 13 July 2022. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
  7. "Ilimane Diop joins Unicaja Malaga". Sportando. 20 August 2023. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  8. "Ilimane Diop debuta con la selección española senior" (in Spanish). ACB.com. 12 July 2016. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  9. Hein, David. "Spain youngster Diop taking step in Euroleague". FIBA.com. Archived from the original on 29 August 2015. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
  10. Mills, Danny. "Eurohopes Basketball Prospect Ilimane Diop". EuroHopes.com. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
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