Diawara's Record-Breaking Shooting

0:00From The Daily News Now Network, this is NBA News Today, subscribe to keep up with every headline, every game. New York Knicks Rookie, Muhammad Diawara, made waves over the weekend against the San Antonio Spurs. The 20-year-old Frenchman launched 13 three-point shots in just 15 minutes of play. That pace set a new record at 0.87 attempts per minute. His bold shooting highlighted his growing role on the team. Coach Mike Brown has been impressed enough to give Diawara steady minutes and a spot in the playoff rotation. Brown called him the most confident young player he's seen and praised his fearlessness after the Knicks 114-89 win. Diawara's versatility shines as a switchable defender who can even block shots at the rim. Fans and analysts love his spiel for the game, quick processing and passing vision that keeps the offense moving. At 6 foot 9 with a 7 foot 4 wingspan and 9 foot 2 standing reach, his physical tools stand out.

1:00He handles the little details well, even if they do not always show in the box score. Diawara has boosted his three-point shooting to 39.8% this season. On a per 36-minute basis, he averages 14.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 2.7 assists. That far exceeds expectations for a 51st overall draft pick from June. Looking ahead, his rookie deal helped the Knicks dodge luxury tax issues this year. But teams like Brooklyn could offer restricted free agency deals under the Gilbert Arena's rule, capped around $15.1 million next season. The Knicks plan to match and build around him despite higher costs down the road. The daily news now is grateful to our sponsor for today's episode. Layback, press play, let the pillow do the rest. Sound meets comfort, S-O-L-I, solely pillow dot com.