Moussa Cissé Bio
Moussa Cissé (born 10 September 2002) is a Guinean professional basketball player for the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association (NBA), where he plays on a two-way contract with the Texas Legends of the NBA G League. Standing 211 cm (6 ft 11 in) and weighing around 100 kg, he plays the center position and is widely recognized for his shot-blocking and rebounding. A consensus five-star recruit in his high school class, Cissé is considered one of the best centers to come out of the 2020 recruiting cycle.
Before turning professional, Cissé played college basketball for the Memphis Tigers, the Oklahoma State Cowboys, and the Ole Miss Rebels, earning multiple conference honors along the way. He won a National Invitation Tournament (NIT) championship with Memphis in 2021 and was twice named to the Big 12 All-Defensive Team. In July 2025, he signed with the Dallas Mavericks, beginning his NBA career.
Early Life and Background
Moussa Cissé was born in Conakry, Guinea, and lived there until the age of 14, when he moved to the United States. Growing up in Conakry, Cissé spent much of his childhood playing soccer rather than basketball. The move to New York marked the beginning of his transition to organized basketball, a sport he had not focused on during his early years in West Africa.
Once in the United States, Cissé began playing high school basketball at St. Benedict’s Preparatory School in Newark, New Jersey, where he shared the court with future NBA player Precious Achiuwa. He then spent two seasons at Christ the King Regional High School in Queens, New York, lining up alongside fellow big man Kofi Cockburn. As a sophomore, Cissé led Christ the King to the Class AA state title game, providing an early glimpse of his shot-blocking ability.
For his junior year, Cissé transferred to Lausanne Collegiate School in Memphis, Tennessee, in search of a stronger program. On 25 November 2019, he recorded 31 points, 22 rebounds, and 21 blocks in a single game, surpassing a Shelby County single-game blocks record that had stood since 1976–77. He led Lausanne to the Division II-A state championship, earning Most Valuable Player honors after posting 15 points, 10 rebounds, and nine blocks in the title game. That season he averaged 18.4 points, 15.3 rebounds, and 9.2 blocks per game, earning Tennessee Mr. Basketball recognition in Division II-A and breaking a long-standing Memphis city record for blocks per game.
Path to Basketball
Cissé was rated a consensus five-star recruit by the major recruiting services and was listed as a top-10 player in his class. On 27 May 2020, he announced that he would graduate from high school a year early and reclassify into the 2020 cycle, where he remained a five-star prospect. Less than two months later, on 15 July 2020, Cissé committed to play college basketball at Memphis, citing the influence of head coach Penny Hardaway and former St. Benedict’s teammate Precious Achiuwa, who had just completed his freshman season with the Tigers.
His path to college basketball was shaped by three different high school programs, each of which helped him refine his game against strong competition. The combination of elite high school exposure, a reclassification that accelerated his development, and the opportunity to play for a former NBA star coach positioned him as one of the most highly touted centers in the country heading into his freshman year.
Moussa Cissé Career
Early Career (2020–2022)
Cissé made an immediate impact at Memphis during his freshman season. He posted his first career double-double on 2 December 2020, finishing with 14 points and 10 rebounds in an 83–54 victory over Arkansas State. He averaged 6.6 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game and was named the American Athletic Conference (AAC) Freshman of the Year, while also earning a spot on the AAC All-Freshman Team. Memphis won the 2021 NIT championship that season, giving Cissé an early taste of postseason success.
On 6 April 2021, Cissé declared for the 2021 NBA Draft while maintaining his college eligibility, before later withdrawing and entering the transfer portal. On 15 July 2021, he committed to Oklahoma State, choosing the Cowboys over Florida State, Georgia, and Kentucky. The move to a new conference set the stage for his most decorated college stretch.
Oklahoma State Breakthrough (2021–2023)
In his sophomore season at Oklahoma State, Cissé emerged as one of the best defensive big men in the Big 12 Conference. He was named the Big 12 Co-Defensive Player of the Year alongside Baylor’s Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua and West Virginia’s Gabe Osabuohien, averaging 7.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game. His rim protection and physicality in the paint became the foundation of the Cowboys’ defense.
As a junior, Cissé continued to anchor the Oklahoma State frontcourt and was named to the Big 12 All-Defensive Team for the second consecutive year. Over two seasons in Stillwater, he established himself as a reliable interior presence whose value was felt most clearly on the defensive end of the floor.
Ole Miss and Return to Memphis (2023–2025)
Following the 2022–23 season, Cissé entered the transfer portal for a second time and committed to Ole Miss, choosing the Rebels over offers from UCLA and Cincinnati. His time in the Southeastern Conference added a new chapter to his college journey and broadened his experience against a different style of competition.
For the 2024–25 season, Cissé transferred back to Memphis, returning to the program where his college career had begun. The familiar surroundings, combined with the lessons learned at Oklahoma State and Ole Miss, helped him prepare for the next step in his basketball career.
Dallas Mavericks Era (2025–Present)
On 8 July 2025, Cissé signed with the Dallas Mavericks, beginning his professional career. Less than a month before the start of the regular season, on 18 October 2025, the Mavericks converted his contract into a two-way deal, linking him to the Texas Legends of the NBA G League. The two-way arrangement allows Cissé to split time between Dallas and the G League while continuing his development at the highest level of the sport.
Driving Style and Strengths
Cissé’s game is built around his size, length, and timing as a rim protector. He is most effective near the basket, where he uses his 211 cm frame to contest shots, control the glass, and finish around the rim. His 9.2 blocks per game as a junior at Lausanne foreshadowed the defensive identity that followed him through college and into the NBA, where shot-blocking and rebounding remain his primary contributions.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the defining moments of Cissé’s career are his 31-point, 22-rebound, 21-block performance at Lausanne in 2019, his 2021 NIT championship at Memphis, and his 2022 Big 12 Co-Defensive Player of the Year award at Oklahoma State. His signing with the Dallas Mavericks in July 2025 marked the start of his professional career, and his conversion to a two-way contract in October 2025 was a key milestone in his early NBA journey.
Moussa Cissé Career Wins
Moussa Cissé’s trophy case is anchored by team and individual awards earned across his high school and college career. His résumé includes a national postseason title in college, conference defensive honors, and statewide recognition as one of the top high school players in Tennessee.
College and High School Highlights
Cissé won the 2021 NIT championship with the Memphis Tigers during his freshman year, providing one of the earliest highlights of his career. In high school, he led Lausanne Collegiate School to the Division II-A state championship and was named Most Valuable Player of the title game. He was also recognized as Tennessee Mr. Basketball in Division II-A following his junior season at Lausanne.
Other Awards and Performances
In addition to his team accomplishments, Cissé was named Big 12 Co-Defensive Player of the Year in 2022 and earned two selections to the Big 12 All-Defensive Team in 2022 and 2023. He was also the AAC Freshman of the Year in 2021 and was named to the AAC All-Freshman Team the same season. These honors reflect a consistent defensive identity that has defined his career from high school through the start of his professional journey.
Moussa Cissé Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Moussa Cissé’s immediate family is limited. He was born and raised in Conakry, Guinea, before relocating to the United States at age 14, a move that set the course for his basketball development.
Personal Life
Cissé maintains an active presence on social media, where he is known by handles that reflect his basketball identity. He has focused much of his early adult life on his playing career, moving between high schools and college programs before signing his first professional contract with the Dallas Mavericks.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season represents Moussa Cissé’s first year as a professional basketball player. He signed with the Dallas Mavericks in July 2025 and was converted to a two-way contract in October 2025, giving him the opportunity to develop with the NBA club while logging meaningful minutes with the Texas Legends in the NBA G League.
As a two-way player, Cissé is expected to split his time between the Mavericks and the Legends, working on his defensive game and overall conditioning at the professional level. The arrangement provides a structured path for him to adjust to the speed and physicality of the NBA while continuing to play significant minutes in the G League.
Looking ahead, the 2025–26 season is a foundational year for Cissé, with the goal of establishing himself as a reliable rim protector and rebounder. Continued development on both ends of the floor could position him for an expanded role with the Mavericks in future seasons.