Mady Sissoko was a polarizing name in East Lansing for the better part of two years. The former Michigan State big man was known for going nuclear against Gonzaga and Kentucky before finding his level as a guy who could score you six points and grab five rebounds every night.
Sissoko was loved for the effort he gave, but he was also a source of frustration for fans because it seemed like he never got better after entering the starting lineup.
As previously stated, however, he showed some flashes of being a special player. His performances against Kentucky and Gonzaga were incredible, and it got a lot of fans to buy into him as the starting center for a Big Ten title contender. However, that just didn't pan out.
Mady decided to transfer following the 2023-24 season with Michigan State -- it was a mutual decision between him and Tom Izzo. He chose Cal.
The Golden Bears utilized him plenty and he did enough to earn a shot with the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2025 NBA Summer League. He's already two games into his professional career at Summer League, and he's off to a strong start.
In his first game, Sissoko started and finished with four points and seven rebounds. Not a great game, by any means, but first-game jitters are a real thing, especially when you move up to the highest level.
In his second game on Monday night, Sissoko looked like a force in the post. He finished with 13 points and nine rebounds, leading the Thunder to a win over the Sixers. He was 5-for-6 from the floor, had two assists and a steal, and even shot a 3-pointer (his only miss).
While he's no longer in East Lansing, he's an easy guy to root for and there are no ill feelings between fans and Sissoko. He did great things while at Michigan State and fans want him to do well.
Imagine a future in the NBA where Mady is a starting center. That would break some brains.