BORIS Diaw had a legendary love of food while he competed in the NBA.

The San Antonio Spurs icon kept a working espresso machine in his locker and once ate an entire octopus in one sitting.

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Boris Diaw in action for the San Antonio SpursCredit: Getty

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The Frenchman had a legendary love of foodCredit: Instagram/diawborris

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Diaw had a weight clause put in his contractCredit: Instagram/diawborris

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Diaw (left) once ate an entire octopus in one sittingCredit: Getty
“Boris is the guy that’s going to go to the restaurant and order like chicken hearts – whatever odd thing that people may think it is,” France national team star Ronny Turiaf recalled.

“And one day we were eating at this beautiful restaurant on a little cliff, and this guy brings out this crazy huge octopus that’s cooked, and everybody was surprised, like, ‘Man, I’m not going to touch this.’

“And then Boris said, ‘You guys are not going to eat it? Alright, cool.’

“He grabbed the plate and he ate the whole octopus, and he loves octopus.

“And I’m, like, ‘Boris, you are insane’.”

The Spurs were so concerned about Diaw’s love of food when he joined the team in 2012 that they put a weight clause in his contract that included $500,000 in potential annual bonuses.

The French power forward stood to receive $150,000 for weighing less than or equal to 254 pounds three times a season – on October 25, the first Tuesday after the All-Star Game, and on April 1 ahead of the playoffs.

Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich even kept Diaw in games during ‘garbage time’ to help him stay trim.

“Sometimes we’re up 30, and he’s like, ‘I’m just going to leave you on the court so you can lose some weight’,” Diaw recalled.

But Diaw proved he was worth his weight in gold by helping the Spurs to the NBA Finals in 2013 and 2014, winning one title.

Diaw, 41, retired from basketball in 2018 and he is now the president of French club Metropolitans 92.