Mady Sissoko Started Playing Basketball Due To His Brother Modibo Though None Of His Nine Siblings Play The Sport
Mady Sissoko was encouraged to play basketball by his older brother Modibo Sissoko. Otherwise, the 6-foot-9 player would probably be kicking a soccer ball right now.
Mady has three brothers. One is in the military, one is a truck driver and his oldest brother, Modibo, works at a pharmaceutical company.
Sissoko was raised alongside his nine siblings in the destitute region of Mali. At times there would be no water or electricity, and he would sleep on dirt floors in the small hut on his family’s farmland.
During his trip to West Africa, Michael Clayton returned to the US with Mady after he saw his potential to become a future NBA star. Michael is now his guardian and the administrator at the Utah Valley Eye Center
And Mady hasn’t disappointed Clayton one bit. The Malian has become a fan favorite in Michigan, and last night Mady led his side to a shock victory against Kentucky in double overtime.
Quick Facts on Mady Sissoko
| Full Name | Mady Goundo Sissoko |
| Age | 21 |
| Date of Birth | December 20, 2000 |
| Father’s Name | Kassim Sissoko |
| Mother’s Name | Fatoumata Kanoute |
| Siblings | 9 |
| Team | Michigan State Spartans |
| Position | Center |
Mady Sissoko Started Playing Basketball Due To His Oldest Brother Modibo Sissoko
Mady Sissoko was pushed to play basketball by his brother, Modibo Sissoko. His oldest brother lives in Paris and works for a pharmaceutical company
And listening to his older brother, Mady quit soccer and started playing basketball, and few of the gameplay came naturally to the 21-year-old.
Modibo Sissoko is the oldest brother of Mady Sissoko. Modibo and Mady were raised alongside their two brothers and six sisters in destitute sections of Mali.
The siblings were a tight-knit group looking out for each other, giving interest in their likes and dislikes. And though Modibo knew how much Mady loved soccer, he pushed his brother towards playing basketball.
gettyimages
The center of Spartans was a late bloomer in the sport. While some players start playing the game well before middle school, Mady began his journey when he was 15. At 6-foot-7, Mady at the time didn’t quite realize how important his tall stature was before his brother explained it to him.
Mady loved soccer, and it is understandable as he comes from a country that has produced famous soccer stars in the past and has a talented bunch of players currently in Bissouma and Camara.
But Modibo successfully made Mady realize that his true potential lies in basketball.
instagram
And Modibo certainly made the right choice in helping his brother figure out his career path, as one year later, Mady’s life completely changed. The kid who didn’t know how to speak a word of English was on a plane to become an NBA star.
Sissoko enrolled at Wasatch Academy in Utah and became a consensus four-star recruit. In 2019 he decided to play for Michigan State, and the Malian has not disappointed the Spartan fans.
Mady Sissoko Has Three Brothers And Six Sisters
Mady Sissoko was the youngest of three brothers and six sisters. Well, he also has seven half brothers and sisters and they lived in farmland near the Senegal river.
We have heard hundreds of stories of how some older siblings are the catalyst to the success of their younger brothers and sisters and Mady’s story ain’t different. It was his siblings that have helped him reach the place he is in today.
1. Modibo Sissoko
gettyimages
Mady Sissoko didn’t have to go far to find inspiration. Modibo Sissoko was right there to give assurance to his little brother that basketball will be the right choice for him.
Currently, Modidbo lives in Paris and works for a pharmaceutical company. And if Mady didn’t make it to the US there were plans for Mady to travel with his older brother to France.
2. Souleymane Sissoko
gettyimages
Souleymane Sissoko is a soldier in the Mali army, and if it weren’t for Souleymane’s meeting with Michael Clayton, Mady probably would have never got the chance to travel to the US to realize his dreams.
The soldier told Clayton that he had a brother who was interested in basketball and was taller than him. And when Clayton asked to meet his little brother, Souleymane hopped into his motorbike and traveled eight hours to bring Mady back to the camp they were staying.
And then Clayton decided to give Mady a chance to realize his dreams of becoming a basketball player and began the process of getting a U.S visa for the 15-year-old Mady.
Mady Sissoko Parents and Family
Mady Sissoko was born to parents Kassim Sissoko and Fatoumata Kanoute in 2000. And the Malian basketball player comes from quite a large family.
Being the youngest among his nine siblings, Mady enjoyed quite a bit of his childhood being pampered by them all. And though they didn’t have the best living conditions in the rural area of Mali, Mady has said many times he doesn’t regret a bit living in the farmlands.
forbes
Kassim Sissoko and Fatoumata Kanoute are farmers, and so are his uncles, aunts, and cousins. On their small size property, they grow millet, corn, bananas, and peanuts and it has been their generational trend to do so.
The basketball player grew up in a religious household where they practice Islam, and from Mady’s Instagram handle, it is clear that even after coming to the US he has continued to practice his religion.
forbes
Becoming an NBA player isn’t Mady’s dream, but it’s a path that can lead his family to a better life. The Michigan State player dreams of helping his family, who still resides in Mali.
The 21-year-old carries a dream of his three older brothers who never got the chance to play the sport professionally. At times the 21-year-old might feel like he weights the world on his shoulder, but he is determined to relish the chance he got and make his family happy.
