Team 2008-09: PHOENIX SUNS and CHARLOTTE BOBCATS (USA-NBA)

Career: JSA Bordeaux (France-Youth Teams, 1995-98),CENTRE FÉDÉRAL-INSEP (France-3rd Div. 1998-2000),Pau-Orthez (France-Pro A, 2000-03), Atlanta Hawks (USA-NBA, 2003-05), Phoenix Suns (USA-NBA, 2005-09), Charlotte Bobcats (2009-...)

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Diaw's evolution with the French team has always been a step ahead of his progression with his club team. It proved true again in 2005, when the young forward who had struggled with Atlanta had a memorable tournament at EuroBasket. Diaw was selected for the EuroBasket 2005 First Team and would have been the MVP had France beaten Greece in the semis. Following his trade from Atlanta to Phoenix, Diaw became more assertive and was named the Most Improved Player in the NBA in 2005-06. In the playoffs, he even took it to another level, averaging 24.2 points on 52.2 percent shooting during the Western Conference Finals against Dallas. In Phoenix, though his stats did suffer a bit with the return of Amare Stoudemire to the line-up. The ultimate versatile and team player, Diaw can play every single position on the court, but he has also sometimes "absences" on the court and always irritates coaches, journalists and fans who all know that he could and should have more influence on the game. Moved to Charlotte in the beginning of 2009, he found in Larry Brown's system and trust a new energy and intensity, averaging 15.1 points and nearly six rebounds for a team that almost made the playoffs. Diaw is the son of one of the greatest French women players of all time, Elisabeth Riffiod, and of a Senegal high-jump champion, Issa Diaw.