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Charlotte Hornets forward Moussa Diabaté has been named the winner of the 2025-26 Kia NBA Hustle Award, the league announced on Thursday. The Kia NBA Hustle Award honors players who make effort plays that do not often appear in the traditional box score but impact winning on a nightly basis. The award is based on a statistical formula rather than a media vote, utilizing a variety of hustle stats.

Sam Perley: Moussa Diabate on the fans' 'Moose' chants and cheers this year: "It's been great and amazing... Hopefully it's going to happen a lot more. I'll be sure to work for that."

Charlotte Hornets PR: INJURY REPORT: @hornets at ORL 4/17 Moussa Diabate (L Hip Soreness) is questionable
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Ball and Knueppel have formed a Hornets 3-point shooting duo of the future that has a new-age Splash Brothers feel to it. Charlotte has been perhaps the best story of the NBA season and authored the most surprising turnaround with a potent starting five that includes the emerging Brandon Miller, Miles Bridges and Moussa Diabate. The Hornets won 44 games after totaling just 19 wins a season ago. Only the Spurs have had a bigger turnaround this season. "Nobody's thinking that playing Charlotte is going to be an easy walkover game," Knueppel told ESPN. "Which it has been the last couple years."

Rod Boone: Of note: Moussa Diabate (left ankle soreness) is questionable for tonight's game against Indiana. Grant Williams (injury management) is out. PJ Hall, who was in a walking boot yesterday, has been diagnosed with a right ankle fracture and is out indefinitely. No timetable given.

FullCourtPass: Moussa Diabate on whether he's ever been in a car driven by LaMelo Ball 💀 "Hell nah, never will."
Moussa Diabate on whether he's ever been in a car driven by LaMelo Ball 💀
— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) March 26, 2026
"Hell nah, never will."
(h/t @HornetsReddit)
pic.twitter.com/pXGVZTK7zZ

Sam Perley: Hornets beat Memphis, 124-101, to move to 3-0 on the homestand; 5th win in their past 6 GP overall. LaMelo Ball 29 PTS (7/14 from 3P), Brandon Miller 22 PTS, Moussa Diabate 11/14 + 2 BLK Charlotte took care of business against a hard-playing, yet severely undermanned Memphis team.
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Q: I want to get your quick thoughts on the Hornets, because they’re surprisingly the hottest team in the NBA right now. They’re running on all cylinders. Thoughts on them? Could you see them making the playoffs at this point? Muggsy Bogues: Absolutely. The guys have been playing well. Health is the key, if the guys are healthy with LaMelo, Miles, Miller, Kon and Diabate all on the same floor at the same time. A lot of success has been having those guys. Unfortunately, we have the suspension, but I still think they bounce back. They just got a big win against Atlanta. I think the guys are really looking forward to the last stretch of the season.

Danielle Stein: Moussa Diabate shared this statement on Instagram #Hornets

Bobby Marks: Suspension amounts: Isaiah Stewart: $724,138 Miles Bridges: $689,655 Jalen Duren: $89,423 Moussa Diabate: $62,641

Owen O'Connor: Miles Bridges and Moussa Diabaté have both been suspended for four games. They will be eligible to return on February 24th against the Bulls in Chicago.