Alpha Diallo: 'Growing up in Harlem, basketball is part of your life' / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: Roca Team/Direction de la Communication Credit Roca Team/Direction de la Communication

EuroLeague rookie Alpha Diallo is having a fantastic season in the competition. He's averaging 9.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.4 steals per game while shooting 40% from three-point.

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With French side Monaco Basket, he reached the playoffs and he's now fighting for a spot in the EuroLeague Final Four.

The American forward talked with veteran Euroleague player Kyle Hines inside the EL format 'A quarter with Kyle Hines'.

During the conversation, Diallo recalled his upbringing back in the USA and how it made him the player that he's right now.

"You know, growing up in Harlem, basketball is a part of your life", Diallo said. "Every two blocks, there's a basketball court in a park somewhere, so you really can't get away from it. I started to play basketball after playing other sports because all my friends were playing basketball".

This is Diallo's second season in Europe after playing last season in Greece for Lavrio. Answering Kyle Hines' question, Diallo confessed that he didn't know much about European basketball when he first came over.

"Just like you, I didn't know much about overseas basketball. For example, I didn't know that were both domestic leagues and European leagues. But I was eager to learn. I reached out to Quinton Hosley, who has been playing in Europe for a few years. We talked about the overseas process, so he schooled me a little bit before I came here".

The American forward explained that his impact with EuroLeague basketball has been hard, and he quickly realized that every single game in the competition it's a grind, and there are no such things as easy games in Europe.

"It's hard, man. A grind, really", Diallo said. "A lot more methodical and more skill-based, not really fast-paced too much but a lot more sets and grind it out type of basketball. Every game has been hard. It's a league where you've got to lock in for every game and it has helped me grow as a player for sure".

Diallo also praised the veteran's presence inside Monaco which helped him a lot in giving the best on the court.

"We got a team full of great players, great older dudes who played in the league already who just gave me some great advice on what to do and what not to do and how to keep my head on straight. Guys like Brock Motum, he's a veteran too that showed me the rope a lot".

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