After battling hard in Spain and then again in France in their recent preparation clashes against Sergio Scariolo’s squad on the road to FIBA EuroBasket 2025, the French national team is still searching for reinforcements to bolster its roster.
France already knew they would be without several of their most important big men – Victor Wembanyama, Rudy Gobert, Mathias Lessort, and Moustapha Fall – each unavailable for the summer’s most anticipated competition.
Adding to the list of absences, Vincent Poirier has also been ruled out, leaving a major gap in the team’s frontcourt rotation.
To address the shortage, head coach Frederic Fauthoux and his staff explored the possibility of bringing in Moussa Diabate, the 23-year-old forward currently playing in the NBA with the Charlotte Hornets.
According to BeBasket, the player, after discussions with his entourage, ultimately declined the call-up from the French federation, deciding instead to concentrate on preparing for his upcoming NBA season.
Diabate had been included in France’s preliminary roster ahead of EuroBasket and even appeared in several friendly games, but he will not be part of the final squad.
In the 2024–25 NBA season with Charlotte, he averaged 5.7 points and 6.2 rebounds per game, showing promise as an athletic, energetic frontcourt option.
While he has represented France at the youth level, Diabate has yet to make his senior debut with Les Bleus. He last suited up for his country at the 2019 FIBA U18 European Championship, where he impressed with averages of 12.9 points and 9.9 rebounds per game.
France will now have to continue their search for depth in the paint as they prepare to mount a challenge at EuroBasket 2025 without several of their headline stars.
France called back Moussa Diabate, but he turned down the offer 🇫🇷
— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet) August 17, 2025
They won't count on Victor Wembanyama, Rudy Gobert, Mathias Lessort, Vincent Poirier, and Moustapha Fall at FIBA #EuroBasket 2025:https://t.co/K0qLcwGq3E
