Knicks rookie Mohamed Diawara fell in love with basketball by watching his sister

Mohamed Diawara began playing after watching his sister as a child and has worked into the New York rotation, including a 14-point game in a win at Philadelphia.

Mohamed Diawara grew interested in basketball by tagging along to his sister Fatou’s grade-school practices when he was about 8 or 9. He switched from soccer to basketball around age 12 after a growth spurt and named Kevin Durant as a childhood favorite. Drafted 51st last year, the 20-year-old French-born forward has moved into regular minutes with the New York Knicks this season. Teammates and coach Mike Brown have noted his shooting, defensive length and feel for the game. Key details: - Diawara was the 51st pick in last year’s NBA Draft and is 20 years old. - Over the Knicks’ last five games he is averaging about 20 minutes and 7.2 points. - He scored 14 points in 20 minutes in New York’s 138-89 win at Philadelphia. - The article reports he has made 12 of 13 corner 3s this season and is 40 percent on 3s overall. - Josh Hart and coach Mike Brown are quoted noting his defensive work, shooting and game feel. Summary: Team staff say Diwara’s development from training camp and early-season opportunities led to increased playing time, and he has contributed on both ends of the court. Whether his role will expand further in the playoffs is undetermined at this time.