His strong defense helped the Mavericks reach the Finals for the first time, looking back at his career.

At the 2001 NBA Draft, Dessa Gaina Diop, a high school student from Oak Hill College, was selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers with the 8th pick in the first round. Before the training camp in the new season, the Cleveland Cavaliers announced that they had signed Dessa Gaina Diop with a 4-year, $8.64 million rookie contract. Since then, Dessa Gaina Diop has started his NBA career. In the 2001-2002 season, Dessa Genadiop, who was just a first-timer in the league, was not reused by the Cavaliers' coaching staff. He could only play as Chris Mime's second substitute, and usually only played in games with the scores. In that season, Dessa Genadiop played 18 regular season games for the Cavaliers, including one starter, averaging 6.1 minutes per game. The Cavaliers ranked second from the bottom in the Eastern Conference with 29 wins and 53 losses.

In the 2002-2003 season, Dessa Genadiop played as the second substitute for Zajunas Ilgoskas, but his appearances have increased significantly compared to last season. In that season, Dessa Genadiop played 80 regular season games for the Cavaliers, including one starter, averaging 1.5 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1 block per game. The Cavaliers ranked last in the Eastern Conference with 17 wins and 65 losses.

In the 2003-2004 season, Dessa Genadiop still played as a substitute for Zajunas Ilgoskas. His average playing time and data averaged more than last season. In that season, Dessa Genadiop played 56 regular season games for the Cavaliers, including 3 starts, and averaged 2.3 points and 3.6 rebounds per game. The Cavaliers ranked ninth in the Eastern Conference with 35 wins and 47 losses, missing the playoffs.

Dessa Genadiop played against the Bucks

2004-2005 season, due to Drew Guden joining the team in the offseason, Dessa Genadiop's playing time was greatly affected. In that season, Dessa Genadiop played 39 regular season games for the Cavaliers, all of which played as a substitute, averaging 7.8 minutes per game. The Cavaliers ranked ninth in the Eastern Conference with 42 wins and 40 losses, missing the playoffs.

On August 19, 2005, the Dallas Mavericks announced that they had officially signed Dessa Genadiop with a three-year, $6 million contract.

In the 2005-2006 season, Dessa Genadiop played as a substitute for Eric Danpier. With the progress of the regular season, Dessa Genadiop's excellent performance on the defensive end, he was gradually promoted to the team's starting center. In this season, Dessa Genadiop played 81 regular season games for the Mavericks, including 45 starts, averaging 18.6 minutes per game, contributing 2.3 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.8 blocks. The Mavericks ranked fourth in the Western Conference with 60 wins and 22 losses. He swept the Memphis Grizzlies 4-0 in the first round, defeated the San Antonio Spurs 4-3 in the Western Conference semi-finals, and defeated the Phoenix Suns 4-2 in the Western Conference Finals. He made the finals for the first time in the team's history. The Mavericks lost to the Miami Heat 2-4 in the finals and missed the championship.

Dessa Genadiop

On November 16, 2005, the Mavericks played against the Nuggets at home. In the whole game, Dessa Genadiop played for 36 minutes, made 2 of 5 shots, contributed 4 points, 16 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals and 6 blocks, and blocked Cameron Anthony's final shot at the last moment of the game, helping the Mavericks defeat the Nuggets 83-80, of which 16 rebounds were the highest single-game rebounds in Dessa Genadiop's personal career.

On May 23, 2006, in the 7th game of the Western Conference Semi-Finals, the Mavericks challenged the Spurs away. Dessa Genadiop chose to play with an injury. He made 10 minutes of substitute, made 3 of 3 shots, and made 2 free throws and contributed 7 points, 4 rebounds and 2 blocks. In this game, Dessa Genadiop not only successfully defended Spurs leader Tim Duncan's shooting many times at critical moments, but also grabbed offensive rebounds twice in a row at critical moments, helping the Mavericks defeat the Spurs 119-111 and advance to the Western Conference Finals.

In the 2006-2007 season, Dessa Genadiop played as a substitute for Eric Danpier and obtained relatively stable playing time. In that season, Dessa Genadiop played 81 regular season games for the Mavericks, including 9 starts, averaging 18.3 minutes per game, and averaged 2.3 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.4 blocks. The Mavericks ranked first in the league with 67 wins and 15 losses. They lost to the Golden State Warriors 2-4 in the first round, becoming the third team in NBA history to be eliminated by the No. 8 seed in the first round of the playoffs. They are also the first team to be blacked out of the eighth seed after the first round of the playoffs was restructured.

Dessa Gaina Diop made a layup

On April 11, 2007, the Mavericks challenged the Timberwolves away. Dessa Gaina Diop started for 33 minutes in the whole game, making 5 of 7 shots and contributing 10 points, 15 rebounds and 3 assists, helping the Mavericks defeat the Timberwolves 105-88. This is the first time Dessa Gaina Diop has won a double-double in his career.

In the 2007-2008 season, Dessa Genadiop still played as a substitute for Eric Danpier. His average playing time and data have not changed significantly compared to last season. Dessa Genadiop played 52 regular season games for the Mavericks, including 18 starts, and averaged 17.2 minutes per game to contribute 3 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.2 blocks. In the middle of the season, the Mavericks management chose to trade Dessa Genadiop in order to strengthen the team's back line.

On February 19, 2008, the Dallas Mavericks traded Devin Harris, Dessa Genadiop, Keith Van Horn, Trenton Hassel, Morris Iger, $3 million in cash, and two future first-round picks to the New Jersey Nets, and obtained Jason Kidd, Marik Allen, and Antoine Wright..

After Dessa Genadiop during the Nets' period, Dessa Genadiop came on the bench as Nenad Kostic and obtained relatively stable playing time. This season, Dessa Genadiop played 27 regular season games for the Nets, including 5 starts, averaging 14.9 minutes per game, and the Nets ranked tenth in the Eastern Conference with 34 wins and 48 losses, missing the playoffs.

On July 9, 2008, the Dallas Mavericks announced that they would sign Dessa Genadiop for a 6-year, $32.39 million contract.

In the 2008-2009 season, Dessa Genadiop played as Eric Danpier's second substitute. In that season, Dessa Genadiop played 34 regular season games for the Mavericks, all of which played as a substitute, averaging 1.6 points and 3.4 rebounds per game. In the middle of the season, Dessa Genadiop was traded by the Mavericks' management.

Dessa Genadiop defended Ilgoscas

On January 16, 2009, the Dallas Mavericks traded Dessa Genadiop to the Charlotte Bobcats, getting Matt Carroll and Ryan Hollins.

After coming to the Bobcats, Dessa Genadiop played as a substitute for Emecca Okafo. This season, Dessa Genadiop played 41 regular season games for the Bobcats, one of which started, averaged 2.8 points and 3.9 rebounds per game. The Bobcats ranked tenth in the Eastern Conference with 35 wins and 47 losses, and missed the playoffs.

In the 2009-2010 season, Dessa Genadiop was the second substitute for Tyson Chandler, and his average playing time and game plays fell sharply compared to last season. In that season, Dessa Genadiop played 27 regular season games for the Bobcats, all of which played as a substitute, averaging 9.7 minutes per game and contributed 1.2 points and 2.4 rebounds. The Bobcats ranked seventh in the Eastern Conference with 44 wins and 38 losses. He was swept out by the Orlando Magic 0-4 in the first round.

Gerard Wallace and Dessa Genadiop

In the 2010-2011 season, Dessa Genadiop played as Kwame Brown's second substitute. Although his average playing time has increased compared to last season, he usually can only play in games with the score. This season, Dessa Genadiop played 16 regular season games for the Bobcats, all of which played as a substitute, averaging 1.3 points and 2.6 rebounds per game. The Bobcats ranked tenth in the Eastern Conference with 34 wins and 48 losses, and missed the playoffs.

In the 2011-2012 season, Dessa Genadiop still played as the team's second inside substitute, and only started in games where the starting players could not play. This season, Dessa Genadiop played 27 regular season games for the Bobcats, including 9 starts, and averaged 1.1 points and 3.1 rebounds per game. The Bobcats ranked last in the league with 7 wins and 59 losses. In the 2012-2013 season, Dessa Genadiop still played as the team's second inside substitute. In this season, Dessa Genadiop played 22 regular season games for the Bobcats, one of which started, and averaged 0.7 points and 2.4 rebounds per game. The Bobcats ranked second from the bottom in the Eastern Conference with 21 wins and 61 losses.

On October 1, 2013, the Cleveland Cavaliers announced that they had signed Dessa Genadiop with a training camp contract. Before the start of the new season, the Cleveland Cavaliers announced that they would give up Dessa Genadiop. Dessa Genadiop, who became a free agent, never received the signing contract provided by the NBA team again. In the regular season where Dessa Genadiop played in his career, he contributed 0 points in 242 games, ranking second in NBA history. On November 11, 2014, Dessa Genadiop announced his official retirement and ended his career as a player. Since then, this defensive center with outstanding rebounding and blocking abilities has completely left the NBA.