Georges Niang

Georges Niang (born June 17, 1993) is an American-Senegalese[1][2][3] professional basketball player for the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was an All-American college player for Iowa State University.

Georges Niang
Niang (right) with Iowa State in 2016
No. 31 – Utah Jazz
PositionPower forward
LeagueNBA
Personal information
Born (1993-06-17) June 17, 1993
Lawrence, Massachusetts
NationalityAmerican / Senegalese
Listed height6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Listed weight230 lb (104 kg)
Career information
High schoolTilton School
(Tilton, New Hampshire)
CollegeIowa State (2012–2016)
NBA draft2016 / Round: 2 / Pick: 50th overall
Selected by the Indiana Pacers
Playing career2016–present
Career history
2016–2017Indiana Pacers
2016–2017→Fort Wayne Mad Ants
2017–2018Santa Cruz Warriors
2018–presentUtah Jazz
2018→Salt Lake City Stars
Career highlights and awards
Stats  at NBA.com
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com

High school career

A three-year starter and two-year team captain, Niang capped off his career as one of the greatest players in The Tilton School history, amassing a school-record 2,372 points. He was a three-time First-Team All-NEPSAC Class AA pick, Niang was the 2012 NEPSAC Class AA Player of the Year.[4] He averaged 25.1 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game as a senior, averaged 24.2 points and 8.2 rebounds as a junior and led his team to the 2011 NEPSAC Class AA championship with a 72-56 win over St. Mark's. He was named outstanding player of the tournament, scoring 23 points on 11-of-11 shooting from the field in the championship game. His team lost in the 2011 National Prep Championship to Notre Dame Prep (87-85), as Niang scored 31 points.[5] He played for the Boston-based BABC AAU team, the same program that featured former Cyclone and NBA player Will Blalock. His BABC squad won the 2011 Nike Peach Jam, one of the most competitive AAU tournaments in the country.[6] He was teammates at Tilton and in AAU with Nerlens Noel, they won four NEPSAC titles, one national prep championship, one AAU national championship and one Nike EYBL title in his career.

Niang was considered one of the best players on the East Coast, ending his prep career as a consensus national top-100 recruit. He was ranked No. 42 by Lindy's, No. 56 by ESPNU,[7] No. 69 by Scout.com, No. 69 by Rivals.com,[8] No. 73 by Sporting News, and No. 81 by CBS Sports in the 2012 prep national rankings. He also had offers from Iowa, Providence, Texas A&M, and Seton Hall, eventually committing to Iowa State.

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Georges Niang
F		 Methuen, MA The Tilton School (NH) 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 210 lb (95 kg) May 5, 2011 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports:    ESPN:
Overall recruiting rankings:   Rivals: 6, 16 (F)  ESPN: 56, 2 (NH), 14 (F)
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "Iowa State 2012 Basketball Commitments". Rivals.com. Retrieved June 14, 2015.
  • "ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved June 14, 2015.
  • "2012 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved June 14, 2015.

    College career
    Niang playing for Iowa State

    Niang was named to the Big 12 All-Rookie Team in his freshman year in 2013. In the second round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament, Niang broke the fifth metatarsal in his right foot, forcing him to sit for the remainder of the event.[9] As a sophomore, he averaged 16.7 points and 4.5 rebounds as the third most prominent offensive weapon for Iowa State behind Melvin Ejim and DeAndre Kane.[10]

    Niang cut back on his calorie consumption in the 2014 offseason and consequently slimmed down to 230 pounds from 260 pounds.[10] As a junior, Niang led the team in scoring with 15.3 points per game to go along with 5.4 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game. Seeded third in the 2015 NCAA Tournament, the Cyclones were upset by 14th seeded UAB in the round of 64 despite 11 points and seven rebounds from Niang. He considered entering the 2015 NBA Draft, but instead decided to return for his senior season. "I was weighing it, but I want to be loyal to the program and didn't want to go out this way," Niang said. "I didn't want to leave my mark like that."[11]

    Niang surpassed the 2,000-point threshold as a senior, averaging 20.2 points and 6.2 rebounds per game.[12] He was named to the 35-man midseason watchlist for the Naismith College Player of the Year on February 11.[13]

    During his college career, Niang achieved a number program records, including the first player to reach four-straight NCAA tournaments, the first two-time All-American, the career leader in games played (138) and most wins (98).[14]

    College statistics
    Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
    2012–13 Iowa State 352325.1.515.392.7004.61.8.7.212.1
    2013–14 Iowa State 343430.1.474.327.7214.53.6.6.616.7
    2014–15 Iowa State 343430.7.461.400.8085.43.4.5.515.3
    2015–16 Iowa State 343433.2.546.390.8136.23.3.9.620.2
    Career 12110929.2.490.375.7625.13.0.6.515.4

    Professional career

    Indiana Pacers (2016–2017)

    On June 23, 2016, Niang was selected by the Indiana Pacers with the 50th overall pick in the 2016 NBA draft.[15] He joined the team for the 2016 NBA Summer League, where his early play drew praise from Larry Bird.[16] On July 11, 2016, he signed with the Pacers.[17] During his rookie season, he had multiple assignments with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants of the NBA Development League.[18] On July 14, 2017, he was waived by the Pacers.[19]

    Santa Cruz Warriors (2017–2018)

    On August 16, 2017, Niang signed a contract with the Golden State Warriors. He was officially waived by the Warriors on October 14, 2017. He was assigned by the Santa Cruz Warriors as an affiliate player.

    Utah Jazz / Salt Lake City Stars (2018–present)

    On January 14, 2018, Niang signed a two-way contract with the Utah Jazz to take up a spot previously held by former college teammate Naz Mitrou-Long. Throughout the rest of the season, he split his playing time between the Jazz and their NBA G League affiliate, the Salt Lake City Stars.

    On July 13, 2018, Niang signed a standard contract with the Jazz.[20]

    Lovingly nicknamed "Minivan" and "Fat Curry" by his fans, [21] Georges has quickly become a fan favorite.

    NBA career statistics
    Legend
      GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
     FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
     RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
     BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

    Regular season
    Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
    2016–17 Indiana 2304.0.250.0831.000.7.2.1.0.9
    2017–18 Utah 903.6.364.000.5001.0.3.2.01.0
    2018–19 Utah 5908.7.475.410.8331.5.6.2.14.0
    2019–20 Utah 66114.0.438.400.8331.9.7.3.15.9
    Career 157110.0.436.387.8271.5.6.2.14.2

    Playoffs
    Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
    2019 Utah 5011.0.409.308-2.81.0.2.24.4
    2020 Utah 7016.3.500.4141.0002.1.6.0.18.3
    Career 12014.1.470.3811.0002.4.8.1.26.7

    Personal life

    Niang is the son of Sidy and Alison Niang. His father was born and raised in Senegal.[22]

    References
    1. APANEWS. "Senegal shortlists 19 for African Basketball Championship - Apanews.net". apanews.net. Retrieved October 9, 2017.
    2. "Vidéo – Afrobasket: Georges Niang, l'autre " américain " des Lions, Regardez!". Senego.com - L'actualité quotidienne au Sénégal (in French). July 15, 2017. Retrieved October 9, 2017.
    3. "Niang keen to play for Senegal at FIBA AfroBasket 2017". FIBA.basketball. Retrieved October 9, 2017.
    4. "2011 - 2012 NEPSAC Boys' Basketball All-New England Selections". NEPSAC.org. Retrieved July 30, 2014.
    5. Finkelstein, Adam (March 10, 2011). "National Prep Championship recap". ESPN.com. Retrieved July 30, 2014.
    6. Powers, Ian (July 19, 2011). "2011 Nike Peach Jam: Top Prospects". NBADraft.net. Retrieved July 30, 2014.
    7. "Georges Niang recruiting profile". ESPN.com. Retrieved July 30, 2014.
    8. "Georges Niang profile". Rivals.com. Retrieved July 30, 2014.
    9. "Georges Niang Bio". Cyclones.com. Retrieved July 30, 2014.
    10. Forgrave, Reid (October 17, 2014). "Gorgeous Georges? Iowa State's Niang will look a lot different this season". Fox Sports. Retrieved May 5, 2015.
    11. "Iowa State's Georges Niang says he's returning next season". Sports Illustrated. March 30, 2015. Retrieved May 5, 2015.
    12. "Men's Basketball: Niang overtakes Hoiberg, hits 2,000-point mark". Amestrib.com. February 17, 2016. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
    13. Payne, Terrence (February 11, 2016). "Naismith Trophy midseason list announced". Fox Sports. Retrieved February 19, 2016.
    14. Montz, Dylan (March 16, 2016). "Georges Niang era at Iowa State produced numerous milestones". The Gazette (Cedar Rapids).
    15. Taylor, Nate (June 24, 2016). "Pacers select Georges Niang in 2nd round of NBA draft". IndyStar.com. Retrieved December 15, 2016.
    16. "NBA Summer League; Niang earns praise from Bird". EagleTribune.com. July 5, 2016. Retrieved July 5, 2016.
    17. "Georges Niang Signs with Pacers". NBA.com. July 11, 2016. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
    18. "2016-17 NBA Assignments". NBA.com. Retrieved February 7, 2017.
    19. "Pacers Waive Georges Niang". NBA.com. July 14, 2017. Retrieved July 14, 2017.
    20. "Jazz Sign Forward Georges Niang". NBA.com. July 13, 2018. Retrieved July 15, 2018.
    21. "George Niang Nickname". twitter.com. January 4, 2020. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
    22. "Niang veut jouer pour le Sénégal". FIBA.com (in French). March 23, 2017. Retrieved July 14, 2017.
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