Moussa Diabate: Russell Westbrook taught me a lot

Charlotte Hornets big man Moussa Diabate credited Russell Westbrook for inspiring/guiding him when they were teammates with the Los Angeles Clippers following Tuesday’s 134-90 home win vs. the Sacramento Kings (17 points/5 offensive rebounds/6 defensive rebounds/2 assists/1 steal/2 blocks/6-7 FG/5-7 FT/+26 +/- in 24 minutes at starting center).

(via Charlotte Hornets):

“He was my vet. So for me, it’s a full circle moment in a sense more so that I wasn’t playing much with the Clippers. And I forgot to tell him, but he taught me a lot. Especially seeing him with the career that he had, at the age that he is, it’s insane how energetic he is. I don’t think people realize just even during practices. People don’t see it, but we saw it every day when I was back with the Clippers. It’s like, ‘He’s more energetic than the guys that just got drafted. It’s insane.’ And for me it was just like, ‘Damn, I want to be like that. I gotta be like that.’ Especially as a player that play off that energy and seeing him it’s like, ‘Man, I want to be like that.’ And so, I had to learn from him and I was just looking at him asking him questions. So, he really helped me in that sense for sure.”