Second-year guard and Queens native Hamidou Diallo found out about his team’s off-season moves the same way the rest of the world did: on social media. When the Oklahoma City Thunder traded Paul George to the Clippers for a treasure trove of draft assets, then subsequently moved Russell Westbrook to the Rockets for Chris Paul, Diallo didn’t know any of it was coming. “No. No idea at all. That really hit home base,” he said after a visit to the National Basketball Players Association summer youth basketball camp on Thursday.
Hamidou Diallo Rumors
All NBA Players
Position: G
Born: 07/31/98
Height: 6-5 / 1.96
Weight:188 lbs. / 85.3 kg.
Salary: $1,416,852
Born: 07/31/98
Height: 6-5 / 1.96
Weight:188 lbs. / 85.3 kg.
Salary: $1,416,852
Hamidou Diallo: “I didn’t know anything. And, I mean, it’s the NBA. That happens. Different players move, sometimes bigger players, sometimes small players. It’s the NBA; it’s a business and you’ve got to look out for yourself.”
Diallo says he hasn’t spoke to Chris Paul since the trade, but he has a relationship with Paul after attending Paul’s youth basketball camp and working out with the All-Star guard in the past. He’s ready to get on the court with one of his idols, but until then, Diallo wants to improve in every area of his game, specifically his basketball I.Q. “I feel like that’s the biggest game-changer, just knowing the game and seeing out the floor, and sniffing things out before they can happen,” he said, before explaining: “Just watching film, and pretty much sitting there and breaking up film, seeing things that I was doing on the court.”
Maddie Lee: Thunder announced that Hamidou Diallo underwent successful arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow today. He was listed as out last night with right elbow soreness. He’s expected to return to basketball-related activities in about four weeks.
Maddie Lee: Thunder listed Hamidou Diallo (right elbow soreness) as out for tomorrow’s game.
