Sometimes it is the least heralded move that pays off the most for a team. For the Philadelphia 76ers, that is the case when it comes to NBA veteran Georges Niang.
Niang signed a two-year, $6.7 million deal with the 76ers in free agency, departing from the Utah Jazz. He has been a revelation for the 76ers, becoming an integral part of their rotation with the second unit.
With Ben Simmons away from the team, the 76ers needed players to step up, and thus far, Niang has been one of them. He has been an excellent find in free agency, performing excellently in an expanded role.
Niang is playing more minutes and taking more shots than he ever has in his career previously and is making the most of it. He is averaging 12.9 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game. All three would be career-highs or match a career-high for the Iowa State product.
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His production has impressed All-Star center Joel Embiid, who has been facing off against him since their college days. Niang’s Cyclones and Embiid’s Kansas Jayhawks were in the same conference, so they saw plenty of each other in college.
Embiid provided a candid answer when talking about his teammates, believing he used to suck. But, he is happy to now be on his team given all of the positives he brings to the table.
Head coach Doc Rivers believes Niang’s time with the Jazz helped prepare him for the role he is now playing with the 76ers. Seth Curry, another teammate, had glowing remarks as well.
“He knocks down shots, so he’s a threat out there. … And he’s an underrated playmaker — he puts the ball on the floor, making the right decisions. He’s just a smart player offensively, reading the defense, mixing in good screens, slips. He’s an easy guy to play with.”
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Georges Niang knows he has a specific role to play with the Philadelphia 76ers and he performs it to the best of his abilities. His production has been more than the organization could have expected, as he is outperforming his contract by a long shot in the early going.
