Documentary ‘King of New York’ follows the story of OKC Thunder guard Hamidou Diallo, as he goes from high school standout to NBA slam dunk champion.
Hamidou Diallo launched himself onto the national stage by winning the dunk contest during the All-Star break. But long before being selected by the OKC Thunder in 2018, Diallo was a local legend in New York City.
In the documentary ‘King of New York,’ Diallo takes us through his hometown, showing off his high school and the legendary parks he grew up playing at. While there, he plays pickup basketball with the children and shares his thoughts on what it means to give back to the community which supported him from day one.
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Diallo may have just arrived on the NBA scene, but winning the dunk contest should be the first of many accomplishments he achieves at the highest level. Dominating the parks in NYC is nothing to sneeze at, and given the highlight reels of his high school games, as shown in the film, a chance to play in the NBA wasn’t a surprise.
Originally drafted by the Brooklyn Nets 45th overall, it appeared Diallo was going to play near his hometown. But after being traded to Charlotte and then Oklahoma City, he would move to a team with championship aspirations.
And because of the Thunder’s deep roster, Diallo hasn’t gotten much of a chance yet. But, he’s already proven what he can do in limited minutes, and for this high flyer, the sky is truly the limit.
Not a coincidence. #Respect. @hamidoudiallo @mrvincecarter15 pic.twitter.com/WlP0VyzLbk
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) February 17, 2019
Of course, playing at the NBA level requires more than freakish athleticism alone, however, Diallo made it known he’s working on all aspects of his game in the documentary.
Skills like shooting, strength and defensive prowess are all high on his priority list. Diallo said if he can become an elite shooter, he will be nearly impossible to defend.
If Diallo is able to better himself in those areas, he could become one of the better guards in the league.
He’s already shaping up to be the steal of the 2018 draft and could become a cornerstone piece for the OKC Thunder franchise if he signs a long-term extension after his rookie contract expires in the 2020-21 season.