Georges Niang facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Georges Niang

Niang with Cleveland Cavaliers in 2023
No. 20 – Cleveland Cavaliers
Power forward
Personal information
Born	(1993-06-17) June 17, 1993 (age 31) Lawrence, Massachusetts, U.S.
High school	Tilton School (Tilton, New Hampshire)
Listed height	6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Listed weight	230 lb (104 kg)
Career information
College	Iowa State (2012–2016)
NBA Draft	2016 / Round: 2 / Pick: 50th overall
Selected by the Indiana Pacers
Pro career	2016–present
League	NBA
Career history
2016–2017	Indiana Pacers
2016–2017	→Fort Wayne Mad Ants
2017–2018	Santa Cruz Warriors
2018–2021	Utah Jazz
2018	→Salt Lake City Stars
2021–2023	Philadelphia 76ers
2023–present	Cleveland Cavaliers
Career highlights and awards
First-team All-NBA G League (2018) Consensus second-team All-American (2016) Third-team All-American – AP, NABC (2015) Karl Malone Award (2016) 2× First-team All-Big 12 (2015, 2016) Third-team All-Big 12 (2014) Big 12 tournament MVP (2015) Big 12 All-Rookie team (2013)

Georges Niang (/ˈniːæŋ/ NEE-ang; born June 17, 1993), nicknamed "The Minivan", is an American professional basketball player for the Cleveland Cavaliers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was an All-American college player for Iowa State University.

Early life

Niang is the son of Sidy and Alison Niang. His father was born and raised in Senegal. He was elected student body president at Tilton Prep.

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. 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. 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. 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, No. 69 by Scout.com, No. 69 by Rivals.com, No. 73 by The 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	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:

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. 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.

Niang cut back on his calorie consumption in the 2014 offseason and consequently slimmed down to 230 pounds (100 kg) from 260 pounds (120 kg). 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."

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

During his college career, Niang achieved a number of 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).

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. He joined the team for the 2016 NBA Summer League, where his early play drew praise from Larry Bird. On July 11, 2016, he signed with the Pacers. During his rookie season, he had multiple assignments with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants of the NBA Development League. On July 14, 2017, he was waived by the Pacers.

Santa Cruz Warriors (2017–2018)

On August 16, 2017, Niang signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Golden State Warriors. He was waived by the Warriors on October 14, 2017. He subsequently joined the Santa Cruz Warriors as an affiliate player.

Utah Jazz (2018–2021)

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.

Niang scored a then-career-high 24 points against the Los Angeles Clippers on April 10, 2019. He also notched a 24-point game against the Houston Rockets on May 8, 2021.

Philadelphia 76ers (2021–2023)

Niang with the Philadelphia 76ers in 2022

On August 9, 2021, Niang signed a two-year, $6.7 million contract with the Philadelphia 76ers.

Cleveland Cavaliers (2023–present)

On July 6, 2023, Niang signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers. On January 17, 2024, Niang scored a new career high of 33 points against the Milwaukee Bucks, making 13 of his 14 shots attempts. In 2023 Niang played 82 games averaging 9.4 points per game.

Career statistics

NBA

Regular season

Playoffs

College

See also

In Spanish: Georges Niang para niños