Ilimane Diop Gaye (born 4 April 1995) is a professional basketball player for Al Riyadi of the Lebanese Basketball League. 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]
 Diop for Baskonia in 2017 | |
| No. 21 – Al Riyadi | |
|---|---|
| Position | Center |
| League | Lebanese Basketball League |
| Personal information | |
| Born | 4 April 1995 Dakar, Senegal |
| Nationality | Senegalese / Spanish |
| Listed height | 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) |
| Listed weight | 230 lb (104 kg) |
| Career information | |
| NBA draft | 2017: undrafted |
| Playing career | 2011–present |
| Career history | |
| 2011–2021 | Baskonia |
| 2011–2012 | →Álava |
| 2012–2013 | →Araberri |
| 2021–2022 | Gran Canaria |
| 2022–2023 | UCAM Murcia |
| 2023 | Unicaja |
| 2023–2024 | Filou Oostende |
| 2024–2025 | Lenovo Tenerife |
| 2025–present | Al Riyadi |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Medals | |
Professional career
editA 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 10 July 2021, he signed with Gran Canaria of the Spanish Liga ACB.[4]
On 5 July 2022, Gran Canaria released Diop.[5]
On 13 July 2022, he signed with UCAM Murcia in the Liga ACB.[6]
On 20 August 2023, he signed with Unicaja of the Spanish Liga ACB.[7]
On 4 October 2023, he signed with Filou Oostende of the BNXT League.[8]
On 11 January 2024, he signed with Lenovo Tenerife of the Spanish Liga ACB.[9]
On 18 January 2025, Diop signed with Al Riyadi of the Lebanese Basketball League.[10]
International career
editAfter 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.[11]
Player profile
editStanding 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.[12] 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.[13]
Personal life
editHis brother Mamadou is also a basketball player who previously played in the same Spanish basketball squad as he did.
References
edit- ^ "Ilimane Diop Player Profile". Eurobasket.com. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
- ^ "Ilimane Diop Player Profile". RealGM.com. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Herbalife Gran Canaria ink Ilimane Diop". Sportando. 10 July 2021. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Ilimane Diop, músculo para el UCAM Murcia CB". ucamdeportes.com (in Spanish). 13 July 2022. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
- ^ "Ilimane Diop joins Unicaja Malaga". Sportando. 20 August 2023. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
- ^ "Ilimane Diop joins Filou Oostende in the Basketball Champions League". Eurohoops. 4 October 2023. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
- ^ "Ilimane Diop moves from Oostende to Tenerife". Eurohoops. 11 January 2024. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
- ^ "Al Riyadi signs Ilimane Diop, ex Tenerife". Eurobasket.com. 18 January 2025. Retrieved 22 January 2025.
- ^ "Ilimane Diop debuta con la selección española senior" (in Spanish). ACB.com. 12 July 2016. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
- ^ Hein, David. "Spain youngster Diop taking step in Euroleague". FIBA.com. Archived from the original on 29 August 2015. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
- ^ Mills, Danny. "Eurohopes Basketball Prospect Ilimane Diop". EuroHopes.com. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
External links
edit- Ilimane Diop at acb.com (in Spanish)
- Ilimane Diop at eurobasket.com
- Ilimane Diop at euroleague.net
- Ilimane Diop at FIBA
- Ilimane Diop on Twitter
