NBA basketball: Georges Niang, a Lion mind
Georges Niang during an NBA game between the Utah Jazz and the Atlanta Hawks, December 19, 2019. AP - John Amis
Text by: Michaël Oliveira Da Costa
6 min
Son of Sidy Niang, a Senegalese athlete who came to the United States for his studies, Utah Jazz strong winger Georges Niang is making his way in the NBA, despite the headwinds.
Now one of the important elements of the franchise where the French Rudy Gobert evolves, the "Lion of Téranga" has only one hurry: to wear the jersey of the national team.
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There are those who catch the spotlight, like Cameroonian pivot
Joël Embiid
.
There are those who win NBA titles, like
Pascal Siakam
and
Serge Ibaka
.
And the shadow workers, little known, but an integral part of an African contingent that is growing in the best basketball league in the world.
Among them, Georges Niang, who is 27 years old, finally manages to make his hole after an unusual course.
Georges Niang, captain of his university team
Born in Lawrence, Massachusetts, home of the legendary Boston Celtics, Niang quickly knew he wanted to turn his passion for the orange ball into his profession.
“
I quickly understood that basketball was my whole life.
I quickly progressed and the best high schools in the State tried to recruit me,
recalls the player, before adding that
, despite my overweight, and my very "old school" game, without too many dunks, without too much with spectacular gestures, I was able to pull out my pin of the game
”.
He becomes one of the best players in the state, shines every weekend in high school halls, but finds himself with very few offers of college scholarships at the end of his terminal.
George Niang with his Iowa State team against Baylor in an NCAA game, January 7, 2014. AP - Charlie Neibergall
Young Niang is disappointed, but decides to take his fate in hand.
Head to Iowa State University, whose basketball team is coached by former Chicago Bulls sniper Fred Hoiberg.
After an interesting first season (12 points on average), the interior is moving up a gear, shedding 25 extra pounds during the offseason.
“
I decided to really take charge, and not to indulge in eating too heavy, like some Senegalese dishes that I tasted when I was with my father,
he smiles before pointing out that
it was a real awareness, a turning point in my life
:
I no longer wanted to be hurt or criticized because my physical condition was not optimal
”.
During the rest of his career, Niang surpassed the 20 point average mark, and during his senior year (the fourth and last), the third leading scorer in the history of the Cyclones, the nickname of his team, with more 2,000 career points.
The doors of the NBA are opening for this son of a Senegalese immigrant, ready to make a name for himself at the next level.
Niang, full member of the “
Senegal connection
”
Drafted to the 50th position in 2016 by the Indiana Pacers, the strong winger plays little in the Midwest, but continues to fight.
Released from his contract after just one season, he rebounded in the G-League, the NBA development league, at the Santa Cruz Warriors, the franchise affiliated with the Golden State Warriors.
He performed well there, and caught the eye of the Utah Jazz, who offered him a contract.
“
My father was vitally important, he always supported me.
I think his "Lion" side had a lot of impact on me during the tough times because he told me to never let go,
"he remarks.
After a few months of adaptation, he becomes an important part of the rotation, and one of the favorite players of the fans, who like his simplicity.
He travels with his Volkswagen van, develops his brand of ecological clothing, and talks all the time about his Senegalese origins.
Georges Niang congratulated by his teammates after the victory of his Utah Jazz team against the Charlotte Hornets on January 10, 2020. AP - Chris Nicoll
“
My attachment to Senegal is part of me.
I have had the chance to go there several times with my father, and I feel very proud of my Senegalese origins,
he smiles, before adding to have
plans for the future for the country of my birth. father, in sports and education.
But before that, I want to help the national team and wear the jersey of the selection
”.
Called by coach Boniface N'Dong for the qualifying window for AfroBasket last November
, Georges Niang was unable to travel to Kigali because his franchise did not want him to travel there five days from the start. of the preseason training camp.
"
It is only a postponement, and it is one of my objectives to play for the national team in the near future
", underlines the one who is part of the "
Senegal connection
", this sibling of Senegalese evolving or working in NBA, which includes, among others, Gorgui Dieng (Memphis Grizzlies),
Tacko Fall
(Boston Celtics), DeSagana Diop (Houston Rockets),
Makhtar N'Diaye
(New York Knicks) and Dethy Fall (Denver Nuggets).
“
We help each other, we talk to each other all the time, and it's a very close-knit group
,” underlines Niang, who does not hesitate to call this group “
a family, because we are brothers, sons of Senegal.
We want to help Senegalese basketball, and we will continue to work to advance basketball in the country
”.
With AfroBasket 2021 in sight, still in the back of his mind: "
I want to win titles in the national team, and Senegal has not won the African championship for a long time, so it would really be great to lift the trophy in Rwanda next summer!
"
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