DeSagana Diop

Position	Center
League	NBA
Height	7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)
Weight	280 lb (127 kg)
Team	Dallas Mavericks
Nationality	Senegal
Born	January 30, 1982 (1982-01-30) (age 25)
High school	Oak Hill Academy, Virginia
Draft	8th overall, 2001 Cleveland Cavaliers
Pro career	2001–present

DeSagana N'gagne Diop (pronounced Suh-GAH-nah JOP) (IPA: [ʤɑρ]) (born January 30, 1982 in Dakar) is a Senegalese professional basketball player currently playing for the NBA's Dallas Mavericks. Standing seven-feet tall (213 cm) and weighing 280 lbs. (127 kg), Diop's natural position is center. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... A foot (plural: feet or foot;[1] symbol or abbreviation: ft or, sometimes, ′ – a prime) is a unit of length, in a number of different systems, including English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ... An inch (plural: inches; symbol or abbreviation: in or, sometimes, ″ - a double prime) is the name of a unit of length in a number of different systems, including English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ... The or meter (see spelling differences) is a measure of length. ... The pound (abbreviations: lb or, sometimes in the United States, #) is a unit of mass in a number of different systems, including various systems of units of mass that formed part of English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ... The U.S. National Prototype Kilogram, which currently serves as the primary standard for measuring mass in the U.S. It was assigned to the United States in 1889 and is periodically recertified and traceable to the primary international standard, The Kilogram, held at the Bureau International des Poids et... The Dallas Mavericks (also known as the Mavs) are an NBA basketball team based in Dallas, Texas. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Senegal. ... January 30 is the 30th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Founded in 1878, Oak Hill Academy is a co-ed, private Baptist-affiliated secondary school in Mouth of Wilson (Grayson County), Virginia, USA. Oak Hills enrollment of approximately 100 students is 98% boarders, serving grades 8-12. ... Official language(s) English Capital Richmond Largest city Virginia Beach Area  Ranked 35th  - Total 42,793 sq mi (110,862 km²)  - Width 200 miles (320 km)  - Length 430 miles (690 km)  - % water 7. ... 2001 NBA Draft — 27 June 2001 – New York City, New York Kwame Brown became the first high school player to be drafted number one overall in draft history. ... The Cleveland Cavaliers (also known as the Cavs) are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. ... Articles with similar titles include the NATO phonetic alphabet, which has also informally been called the “International Phonetic Alphabet”. For information on how to read IPA transcriptions of English words, see IPA chart for English. ... January 30 is the 30th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... (City of Dakar, divided into 19 communes darrondissement) City proper (commune) Région Dakar Département Dakar Mayor Pape Diop (PDS) (since 2002) Area 82. ... Sara Giauro shoots a three-point shot, FIBA Europe Cup for Women Finals 2005. ... The National Basketball Association of the United States and Canada, commonly known as the NBA, is the premier professional basketball league in North America. ... The Dallas Mavericks (also known as the Mavs) are an NBA basketball team based in Dallas, Texas. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

Early life

After he began practicing basketball at the age of 15, Diop succeeded in averaging 14.6 points, 13.2 rebounds, and 8.0 blocks during his senior high school season, earning the USA Today Virginia Player of the Year title and leading Oak Hill Academy to a #1 nation ranking (33 wins, 0 losses). His five favorite NBA players are Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, Hakeem Olajuwon, Dikembe Mutombo and Michael Jordan. [1] USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. ... Official language(s) English Capital Richmond Largest city Virginia Beach Area  Ranked 35th  - Total 42,793 sq mi (110,862 km²)  - Width 200 miles (320 km)  - Length 430 miles (690 km)  - % water 7. ... Founded in 1878, Oak Hill Academy is a co-ed, private Baptist-affiliated secondary school in Mouth of Wilson (Grayson County), Virginia, USA. Oak Hills enrollment of approximately 100 students is 98% boarders, serving grades 8-12. ... Wilton Norman Wilt Chamberlain (August 21, 1936–October 12, 1999), nicknamed Wilt the Stilt and The Big Dipper, was an American professional National Basketball Association (NBA) basketball player for the Philadelphia / San Francisco Warriors, the Philadelphia 76ers and the Los Angeles Lakers; and also played for the Harlem Globetrotters. ... William Felton Bill Russell (born February 12, 1934) is a retired American professional basketball player who played center for the Boston Celtics of the NBA. A five-time winner of the NBA Most Valuable Player Award and a twelve-time All-Star, the 6 ft 9 in Russell was the... Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon (born Akeem Abdul Olajuwon on January 21, 1963) is a retired American professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association (NBA). ... Dikembe Mutombo Mpolondo Mukamba Jean-Jacques Wamutombo, more commonly known as Dikembe Mutombo (born June 25, 1966), is a basketball player in the NBA, playing at the position of center for the Houston Rockets. ... For other persons named Michael Jordan, see Michael Jordan (disambiguation). ...

NBA career

DeSagana N'gagne Diop was originally drafted directly out of Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Virginia by the Cleveland Cavaliers with the 8th overall pick of the 2001 NBA Draft. [2] He played 193 games in four seasons with the Cavaliers, nearly all as a backup, averaging 1.6 points, 2.6 rebounds and 0.8 blocks in 10.8 minutes per contest. Due to conditioning and weight problems along with recurrent injuries, Diop never met the expectations of the Cavaliers or their fans.^{[citation needed]} Official language(s) English Capital Richmond Largest city Virginia Beach Area  Ranked 35th  - Total 42,793 sq mi (110,862 km²)  - Width 200 miles (320 km)  - Length 430 miles (690 km)  - % water 7. ... The Cleveland Cavaliers (also known as the Cavs) are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. ... 2001 NBA Draft — 27 June 2001 – New York City, New York Kwame Brown became the first high school player to be drafted number one overall in draft history. ... A rebound, in some sports, is the retrieval of the ball after a missed shot, especially in basketball and netball. ... The player in blue and white is in position to block the shot. ...

He was signed by the Dallas Mavericks as a free agent on August 19, 2005 to a three-year contract. Although many Mavericks fans were skeptical, Diop has been a positive addition. He established himself as a defensive stalwart and potent rebounder, providing relief for Erick Dampier as a center. After December 31, 2005, he has started most of the games for the Mavericks. Diop's average minutes per game has risen to almost 18, and he is now currently seen as a good role player.^{[citation needed]} The Dallas Mavericks (also known as the Mavs) are an NBA basketball team based in Dallas, Texas. ... In North American professional sports, particularly baseball, football, and basketball, a free agent is a team player whose contract with a team has expired, and the player is able to sign a contract with another team. ... August 19 is the 231st day of the year (232nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Erick Trevez Dampier (born July 14, 1975, in Monticello, Mississippi) is a 6 ft 11 in / 265 lb. ... December 31 is the 365th day of the year (366th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Against the New York Knicks in a pre-season game, Diop hit the game-winning tip-in of a missed shot by Keith Van Horn. Against the Denver Nuggets in November 2005, he registered 16 rebounds with a career-high 6 blocks - including a denial of Carmelo Anthony's potentially game-winning field goal attempt. [3] Keith Adam Van Horn (born October 23, 1975, in Fullerton, California) is an American basketball player who last played forward for the Dallas Mavericks. ... For the original defunct Denver Nuggets, see Denver Nuggets (original). ... Carmelo Kyan Anthony (born May 29, 1984) is an American professional basketball player at the small forward position for the Denver Nuggets of the NBA and the USA National Team. ...

Although the 2005-2006 season was clearly a breakthrough for Diop, he continues to work hard. In an interview with a Dallas paper he said that his main focus for the summer will be "post moves and conditioning." He will need to develop a steady post arsenal to solidify his spot as the Mavericks' starting center.^{[citation needed]}

Diop's defense is applauded around the league; for the 05-06 season, he ranked 11th in total blocks, 14th in blocks per game, and 4th in blocks per 48 minutes. [4] [5] [6]

Player profile

Diop is primarily a defensive specialist. He is considered an excellent shotblocker (among the top 3 in blocks per-48 minutes) because of his large wingspan, and is athletic and mobile enough to cover quicker big men. While he has little offensive game, he has a good 15-foot jumpshot which he rarely uses and is known to throw a dunk or two. In addition, he tries hard and is rarely seen tired while on the floor, even if his foul-proneness still limits his playing time.^{[citation needed]}

His work ethic and improved rebounding and shot-blocking ability inspired Dallas Mavericks coach Avery Johnson to start him over the more experienced Erick Dampier. The Mavs went on to win 13-straight games after the change. Prior to this, Diop had a reputation of being overweight and lazy during his four unsuccessful years in Cleveland. After joining the Mavericks, he lost a significant amount of weight and made the jump from being a scrub player on a mediocre team to a starter on a championship-caliber one.^{[citation needed]} The Dallas Mavericks (also known as the Mavs) are an NBA basketball team based in Dallas, Texas. ... Halo series of games, see Sergeant Major A.J. Johnson. ... Erick Trevez Dampier (born July 14, 1975, in Monticello, Mississippi) is a 6 ft 11 in / 265 lb. ... The Cleveland Cavaliers (also known as the Cavs) are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. ...

In Game 7 of the 2006 playoff matchup between San Antonio and Dallas, Diop was called the "unsung hero" of the game after grabbing two significant offensive rebounds and playing solid defense on Tim Duncan in the 4th quarter and overtime with a broken nose. He also scored on an important dunk in OT, which helped Dallas to a 4 point lead from which they went to win the game.^{[citation needed]} Timothy Tim Theodore Duncan (born April 25, 1976 in Christiansted, St. ...

On April 11, 2007, Diop recorded his first double-double with season-highs of 10 points and 15 rebounds in a 105-88 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Trivia

• Diop speaks seven languages: (Arabic, English, German, Persian, French, Wolof and some Spanish). He participated in the NBA’s “Basketball Without Borders” program in Africa during mid-2004.^{[citation needed]}
• In March 2006, two Mavericks fans produced a version of the hip-hop song "Jump" by Kris Kross. In their version, the refrain "Jump! Jump!" was turned into "Diop! Diop!", and the video praises Diop's shotblocking ability. It became so popular that the Mavs started to play the video at their home games. Diop said, "I remember the first time they played the video during a timeout and I was trying to pay attention to what coach [Johnson] was trying to say but I was sneaking looks at the video." [7]
• When calling his name at the beginning of games, the Mavericks' announcer often speaks it in a very gruff, exaggerated tone: "Say-gah-nah Jahhhhhhhhhhhhp."

Arabic ( or just ) is the largest living member of the Semitic language family in terms of speakers. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... Persian (Local names: فارسی Fârsi or پارسی Pârsi)* is an Indo-European language spoken in Iran, Afghanistan and Tajikistan as well as by minorities in Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, India, Pakistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Southern Russia, neighboring countries, and elsewhere. ... Wolof is a language spoken in Senegal, the Gambia, and Mauritania, and it is the native language of the ethnic group of the Wolof people. ... A world map showing the continent of Africa Africa is the worlds second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. ... shelby was here 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... March 2006 : ← - January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December- → Fijian Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase announces that the 2006 Fiji general elections will be held in the second week of May 2006 from the 6th to the 13th. ... Hip hop (also spelled hip-hop or hiphop) is both a music genre and a cultural movement developed in urban communities starting in the 1970s, predominantly by African Americans. ... Jump is a 1992 song by the rap duo Kris Kross, whose members were only thirteen years old when their song became a hit. ... Kris Kross 1992 album Totally Krossed Out Kris Kross was a young rap duo of the early 1990s most famous for wearing their clothes backwards. ...

External links

• NBA.com Profile - DeSagana Diop
• ESPN.com - DeSagana Diop