Moussa Diagne (203-F/C-1984, college: Furman) is a former professional player from Senegal that played 3 seasons and all with the Telekom Baskets Bonn from 2007-2010 playing a total of 72 BBL games and 14 Eurochallenge games averaging 7.1ppg, 2.9rpg, FGP: 51.0%, 3PT: 29.3%, FT: 61.1%. From 2007-2009 he averaged 5,0ppg and 2,0rpg in the BBL. He played at Mount Olive Prep Academy in Marietta Georgia and then played at Furman from 2003-2007 playing a total of 112 NCAA games. He averaged in double figures in 3 of his 4 NCAA seasons. He looked back on his career and gave memories of the 2009 BBL finals against the EWE Baskets Oldenburg.

Thanks Moussa for talking to germanhoops.com. Where are you at the moment and how is basketball life treating you?

I am still living in Bonn and still enjoying watching the Telekom Baskets whenever I can.

You retired in 2010. You had a short 3 year professional career all with Bonn. Why did you retire so young? Did you simply have a better opportunity off the court that you couldn’t pass up?

Yes, I did retire after just 3 years of playing professional basketball due to a knee injury. Life outside the basketball court has been great though can’t complain.

How have you been keeping busy since you retired in 2010? Do you still have some kind of ties to the game?

I am living a regular life working and spending time with my family. I will be Coaching the first men’s Oberliga team of BG Bonn next Season. I am still recruiting for my team so any good player around Bonn Koeln is free to join the tryouts the next weeks.

You played at Furman (NCAA) from 2003-2007. What memories do you have of that time. The NCAA game was a lot different than today.

College experiences and specially basketball experiences is something I will live with my whole life. The bus rides to the games and going against some big names players on todays NBA. There are a few great memories.

In your second season you played against UNC Greensboro and an unknown freshman by the name of Kyle Hines. You had a 16/8 game and he a 7/6 game. Do you have any memories of that game and his play?

Kyle Hines, has always been a dominant inside player. He has a great inside presence with great touch’s. To bad he didn’t make it to the NBA. I feel like he was better than lots of forward in the league. I actually have a photo from that game.

In your senior year you played against Davidson 3 times and a certain unknown Steph Curry. Did his hot shooting already stick in your mind then or was he just a normal guard to you then?

I had heard the name of a certain freshman Stefan Curry before our first game against Davidson In 2007. He was back then putting up big numbers before our match up. Curry scored 5 points the first half and I was like that boy and nothing I don’t know why people are so hype about him. Curry came the second half and started shooting from everywhere. He scored 25 points the second half.

Who was the toughest forward that you battled in the NCAA that reached the NBA?

I played against Andrew Bogut from Utah in the Alaska invitational in Anchorage Alaska. He was tough to guard. He was the number draft pick that year.

Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Laquan Prowell?

Quan was a very athletic player. We had some great battles in practice. A one and one game can swing both way.

You came to Bonn in 2007 after having a sensational senior year averaging 13/5. Did you expect your rookie season to be easier than how it went? You hardly played for head coach Mike Koch.

I came to Bonn in 2007 after my senior year in college. I enjoyed playing for Mike Koch and I think I had played pretty good minutes my first year. I told Mike my first year that we have some good scorers on the team and my focus was to be the best defender on the team and I accepted that role.

I can imagine one of your most memorable BBL games was the win against Bamberg where you had 9 points. What do you remember from that game?

My most memorable game in the BBL was my first year during game 5 against Frankfurt in Frankfurt where I scored 17points and a memorable dunk over the best defender that time Koko Archibong. We won that game without our 3 starters to move to the finale against Alba Berlin.

You helped the Telekom Baskets Bonn reach the final in 2009. Bonn is back in the final for the first team as they had an incredible season.

The Final lost against Oldenburg in 2009 was a nightmare. We were so close and the city and fans in Bonn deserved to have that Titel. I live in Bonn and still support the team. I am so happy to see them make the final and I am praying that they will be the champion at the end of the season by defeating Ulm.

The 2008-2009 Bonn was a special team that finished the regular season in fourth place. What do you remember being this team’s biggest strength?

We were a great group that loved to play together and win games. The strength of our team was the unselfishness of the guys. Each player accepted his role and played it to the fullest day in day out.

The team had 2 ex NBA players with Ken Johnson and Vincent Yarbrough and a third player by the name of Brandon Bowman who I felt should always have made it. How important was his play for the success of the team?

All those guys played a big part of our team success. Ken and Vince were two great defenders and Brandon was our go guy on offense. Brandon offensive skills was a big part of our team offensive success in 2008-2009.

Miles Schmidt-Scheuber and MOussa Diagne in the Ballsporthalle in Frankfurt in 2008

How will you remember John Bowler most? He was an unorthodox player that also had a original character and humor.

John Bowler, was a very good inside and outside player. You never knew which area of his game was going to destabilize your defense. His humor outside basketball is still something that I always remember from him.

What memories will you always have of EJ Rowland? The guy just completed his 18th season at age 40. I guess his wheels never fell off.

EJ is a lion. He wheels ain’t going to fall that easy. He is a grinder a true leader. I enjoyed having him as a teammate. What people may not know about him is that he is a very funny guy outside the basketball court.

Is Jeff Gibbs one of those guys that you will never forget playing against? How does a 22 centimeter advantage that Ken Johnson still give a big man problems? Was he one of the greatest undersized bigs you ever saw?

Jeff Gibbs was definitely one of the most under sized small forward I played against. He was an incredible rebounder and defender for a guy of his size.

How do you remember the crazy final against Oldenburg. Bonn was always up a game, but Oldenburg always fought back. Was the 71-70 loss in game 5 your toughest loss in your career?

That was definitely the toughest lost in my career because it was a final that we thought it was our until the last second. They said it’s not over until the fat lady sings. It was a though one.

Talk a little about the last seconds. How do you remember witnessing them?

I mean we were winning and thought this was going our way. We were feeling good about ourselves until the very last second when we turned the ball over and allowed Oldenburg an and one. It was horrible but its sports life goes on.

hat was the difference in the series? Could Bonn had won the series keeping Ricky Paulding better in check?

Ricky Paulding is an awesome player. One of the most talented played I have played against in the BBL. But we would have won that game if we didn’t turn the ball over in that very last second to allow Oldenburg an and one to take up the lead.

Please name your starting 5 of favorite Bonn teammates?

Vince Yarbrough , Arthur , Mia Davis, Patrick Flomo, John Bowler

Who won a 1-1 you or Patrick Flomo?

I am a better outside shooter so I might won this one .

Who do you remember being the toughest center that you battled in Germany?

Boumthie Boumthie from Oldenburg. He was a giant and I had tough time guarding him.

The Telekom Baskets Bonn are down 01 in the best of 5 series against Ulm. What is your prediction?

I think it will come down to game 5, 3-2 for Bonn. I see Bonn winning its first ever BBL championship this year.

Thanks Moussa for the chat

Tags : MOUSSA DIAGNE, TELEKOM BASKETS BONN, GERMAN BASKETBALL