Mohamed Diawara emerged as one of the Knicks’ standout players in the early part of the season. Yet, it seems that his role might shift a bit going forward.
With Jeremy Sochan joining the team after being released by the Spurs, Diawara may find his playing time reduced.
“I’m going to stick with what I’ve been doing,” Diawara mentioned to reporters before the Knicks faced off against the Pistons, which they lost 126-111. “I’ll keep putting in the work and be ready for any chances that come my way. I trust the coaching staff to make the best decisions for the team, and I’ll do the same.”
On Thursday, he had a brief stint, recording his numbers in just nine minutes.
In comparison, Sochan managed to score multiple points during both the late third and fourth quarters, even if some were during less critical moments of the game, totaling ten minutes on the court.
Earlier, Coach Mike Brown indicated that Sochan needed to be part of the rotation to properly assess his abilities.
Diawara’s minutes are likely to be impacted, with him being the most probable candidate for a reduction in playing time.
“I’ll be playing against younger players. I’ve faced both young players and veterans,” Brown shared. “But I’m giving Jeremy an opportunity.”
“Sochan is known in the league. The officials know him too. He will have his chance. But ultimately, I’ll play whoever best fits our needs. Jeremy is still new to us, and we must quickly figure out how he fits in before we head into the playoffs,” he added.
Diawara, taken by the Knicks with the 51st overall pick, has taken on a larger role than many anticipated during his rookie season.
While his place on the roster wasn’t guaranteed through the summer, his minutes noticeably increased as the season continued.
Part of this change can be attributed to Gershon Yabusele’s contributions.
Diawara has been effective as a No. 4 defender and, occasionally, as a small-ball No. 5, along with contributing as a scorer—a role that might also suit Sochan well.
“It’s my first year in the league,” Diawara commented. “Anything can happen, so I plan to stay focused, not take anything for granted, and keep striving to become the player I aspire to be.”
Before the game on Thursday, Diawara was averaging 2.7 points per game, shooting 41.3 percent from beyond the arc.
Considering his size and wingspan, one would expect his defensive skills to stand out even more than what has been seen in his offensive play since the draft.
He achieved double-digit scoring in four games during the first half of the season, indicating that his offensive game might be more refined than initially thought.
“I think my biggest growth has been in my 3-point shooting,” Diawara remarked. “I’ve become a bit more consistent, which I believe has been key, along with some improvements in my defense.”
However, the extent of his continued development remains uncertain.
