Diabaté Wins NBA Hustle Award
Diabaté Wins NBA Hustle Award originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . The Charlotte Hornets have a new reason to celebrate this season, as forward Moussa Diabaté was named the NBA’s Hustle Award winner, a recognition that highlights his impact beyond traditional scoring numbers.
Diabaté’s production reflects his energy-driven role. During the 2025–26 season, he averaged 5. 6 points, 6.
4 rebounds, and 0. 9 assists per game while shooting 57. 2% from the field in roughly 18.
3 minutes per contest. His rebounding numbers particularly on the offensive glass helped create second-chance opportunities for Charlotte, while his efficiency showed his ability to capitalize around the rim. However, the Hustle Award goes deeper than standard box score metrics.
The NBA tracks nine hustle categories, and Diabaté excelled across several of them. He averaged 2. 8 deflections per game, ranked near the top among forwards in loose balls recovered, and consistently contested both perimeter and interior shots.