Boris Diaw

French basketball executive and former NBA player, known for his versatility and 2014 NBA championship with the San Antonio Spurs.

Boris Babacar Diaw-Riffiod (born 16 April 1982), better known as Boris Diaw, is a French basketball executive and former player who is the president of Metropolitans 92 of LNB Pro A. Diaw began his playing career in Pro A and returned to that league after 14 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He primarily played the power forward position. In 2006, Diaw was named the NBA's Most Improved Player as a member of the Phoenix Suns. He won an NBA championship with the San Antonio Spurs in 2014.

Quick Facts

Position: President
League: LNB Pro A
Team: Metropolitans 92
Born: 16 April 1982
Birthplace: Cormeilles-en-Parisis, Val-d'Oise, France
High school: INSEP (Paris, France)
Draft round: 1
Draft pick: 21

Lore & Background

Diaw was a member and captain of the senior French national team. He won a FIBA World Cup bronze medal in 2014, a EuroBasket title in 2013, a silver medal in EuroBasket 2011, and two bronze in EuroBasket 2005 and EuroBasket 2015. He earned an All-EuroBasket Team selection in 2005. Diaw has served as president of Metropolitans 92 from July 2019 to April 2020.

Reader's Guide

Diaw was selected by the Atlanta Hawks with the 21st overall pick in the 2003 NBA draft. In August 2005, he was traded to the Phoenix Suns. In the 2005–06 season, he averaged 13.3 points, 6.9 rebounds, 6.2 assists and 1.0 blocks per game. 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 to lose the series in six games. On December 10, 2008, Diaw was traded to the Charlotte Bobcats. On March 21, 2012, he was waived by the Bobcats. Two days later, he signed with the San Antonio Spurs. On June 15, 2014, Diaw won his first NBA championship after the Spurs defeated the Miami Heat 4–1 in the 2014 NBA Finals. On July 8, 2016, Diaw was traded to the Utah Jazz. On July 13, 2017, he was waived by the Jazz. On September 17, 2017, Diaw signed with the Levallois Metropolitans for the 2017–18 season. Diaw announced his retirement on September 6, 2018.