Latest news with #GeorgesNiang
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Former Sixers sharpshooter defends Tobias Harris during time in Philly
Tobias Harris suffered a lot of criticism during his time with the Philadelphia 76ers. Acquired from the Los Angeles Clippers at the 2019 deadline before then being re-signed to a 5-year $180 million deal, Harris averaged 17.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 3.1 assists in 378 games across six seasons in Philadelphia. Harris had to wear a lot of different hats in Philadelphia. His role changed from being a top option with the Clippers to then being the No. 4 option behind Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, and Jimmy Butler. Then, he had to be the sharpshooter after JJ Redick departed in the 2019 offseason. Then, he had to be the No. 2 scorer. Then, he had to be the No. 3 scorer and adjust after James Harden arrived. Harris was asked to do a lot and he did it without complaining. Yet, he received a lot of criticism for coming up small in the playoffs at times. He had some tough moments in the postseason for sure, but overall, Harris was such a key piece to what the Sixers wanted to do and they don't have the success they do without him. His presence was important as ever. Former Sixers sharpshooter Georges Niang hopped on "The OGs Show" and defended Harris from the critics in Philly and credited him for helping the Detroit Pistons make a surprise run to the playoffs in 2025: One of my favorite teammates in Philly had to have been Tobias Harris. I think he took a lot of heat in Philadelphia. Whatever they want to say I think as an overall veteran leader. You talk about sacrificing when James came in, Tyrese (Maxey), Joel, he'd find out a way to make himself effective. He had to continue to connect guys, bring guys together, bring energy, bring life into a youthful organization over there in Detroit. I couldn't say enough great things about that guy. Whatever the opinion one wants to have about Harris with the Sixers, it's obvious that his teammates remember him fondly. He is a professional who just wants to win and be a great teammate and he was just that in Philadelphia while also doing the same thing with the Pistons in his return to Detroit in 2024-25. This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Former Sixers sharpshooter defends Tobias Harris during time in Philly
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
What does reserve forward Georges Niang bring to the Boston Celtics?
What does reserve forward Georges Niang bring to the Boston Celtics? Traded to the Celtics at the start of Boston offseason to help the team's front office get off of the contract of big man Kristaps Porzingis as part of their work to get under the NBA's second apron, Niang has not exactly been embraced by the Boston faithful just yet. Some of that ire may be tied to his scrappy play against now teammate Jaylen Brown, but that same play could win him some fans when it is for the Celtics. A very self-aware rotation player with no illusions about where he stands in the team's current and former pecking order, Niang did himself a favor with his words about his new home. But what does he bring to the court for Boston next season if he does not get dealt again before the start of the 2025-25 NBA season? The hosts of the CLNS Media "The Big Three NBA" podcast, A. Sherrod Blakely, Gary Washburn, and Kwani Lunis, linked up with Cleveland Dot Com Cavs beat writer Ethan Sands to talk it over on a recent episode. Check it out below! If you enjoy this pod, check out the "How Bout Them Celtics," "First to the Floor," and the many other New England sports podcasts available on the CLNS Media network: Listen to "Havlicek Stole the Pod" on: Spotify: iTunes: YouTube:
CBS News
6 days ago
- Sport
- CBS News
Georges Niang is well aware of how Celtics fans feel about him
Georges Niang is a Massachusetts native getting ready to don Green for the Boston Celtics. But the nine-year veteran hasn't exactly received a friendly welcome from Boston fans, and he's well aware of it. Niang was acquired by the Celtics in this summer's Kristaps Porzingis swap with the Atlanta Hawks. The move was made to shed some salary and help get Boston under the second apron heading into "gap season" that likely won't include superstar Jayson Tatum. That he was acquired for a fan favorite like Porzingis is only part of the issue Boston fans have with Niang. While he's carved out a pretty solid career as a 3-and-D role player in his five previous stops, Niang is also a bit of a hot head. He's not going to take any nonsense from the opposition, and he occasionally toes the line. He did just that in a heated playoff game between the Celtics and the 76ers two years ago, when he grabbed Jaylen Brown's ankle from the Philadelphia bench. Boston fans never forget when you try something like that on any player, let alone a star like Brown, and still have a good amount of vitriol for Niang. Local ties be damned (Niang was born in Lawrence and grew up in Methuen), there's a large faction of the fanbase waiting and hoping for Niang to get traded again this offseason. He's well aware of the less-than-warm welcome he's received from his hometown fanbase, but had a great reaction to it during an appearance on "The OGs" podcast with Udonis Haslem and Mike Miller. "You know how tough Boston fans are," Niang said to Haslem. "They don't give a [expletive] if I'm from Boston or not. They're like, 'You just took our unicorn and replaced him with a minivan. Get the [expletive] out of here.'" While Porzingis is known as "The Unicorn" thanks to his downtown threat and playmaking abilities as a big man, Niang has earned the less-than-endearing nickname "The Minivan" since it usually takes him some time to get going and build energy in games -- much like a minivan trying to pick up speed. "I'm like public enemy No. 1," he said. "They're like, 'What the... what is this? This ain't shiny, this got scratches on it!'" That perspective may earn him a few more fans in Boston. But the best way to win them over is to go out and be Georges Niang in a Celtics uniform. While Niang has been mentioned in trade rumors since landing with his hometown team, he's focused on how he can make an impact on a team in transition. With Tatum likely out for the season, Niang could carve out an extremely important role in Boston. "Boston has done a really good job when guys have missed games. It's their culture and who they are. So now it's, what can you do to maximize what you have to help them win games? You don't want to be in Boston losing," said Niang. Niang had a solid 3-and-D role (with a little bit of enforcer added in) with the top-seeded Cavaliers last season before he was sent to the Hawks at the trade deadline. He played well in Atlanta, where Niang averaged 12.1 points per game off 44.1 percent shooting. He won't provide the rim protection Boston lost by sending Porzingis to the Hawks, but the forward can stretch the floor as a 40 percent shooter from downtown. While Boston fans are still miffed at Niang for his ankle grab two summers ago, it appears he and Brown have squashed any lingering beef. Both players were courtside at TD Garden last week for the Connecticut Sun vs. Indiana Fever WNBA matchup, and posed for pictures at the game.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Celtics' newly acquired forward makes statement on fan expectations
The Celtics have been very active this offseason. For financial reasons, they had to part ways with some key players on their 2024 championship roster recently. One of the players they got in return isn't exactly an upgrade, and fans let that be known. This player was recently on a podcast, where he made a statement on why the fans have the right to be frustrated with him being traded for Porzingis. What new Celtic made a statement? The Celtics traded away Kristaps Porzingis this summer, and one of the assets they received was Georges Niang. Niang has gotten a lot of criticism from the fanbase as they already are asking for him to be traded, despite not playing a single game in Boston yet. The hate dates back to a situation that happened in a playoff game between him and Jaylen Brown, but at the same time, fans aren't happy about the trade from a logistical standpoint. MORE: Explaining new Celtic Georges Niang's past feud with Jaylen Brown Niang was recently on "The OGs" podcast, where he addressed these feelings the fanbase has about him. Niang's statement was, "I'm a Boston kid. They don't give a s*t if I'm from Boston, they're like you just took my unicorn and replaced it with a minivan." Porzingis wasn't exactly healthy and available on the court all of the time, but he was way more enjoyable for the fanbase to have on their team, rather than what they expect out of Niang. Niang went on to say that either way, he is ready for the challenge that comes with playing in Boston, especially next season, as the Celtics will need players to step up while Jayson Tatum is out. MORE: A former Celtic got first ring in 2025 Summer League, but not in the way you'd expect Niang does hold the impressive NBA record of most wins among players since 2020. He's won 295 games, 4 games ahead of new teammate Jayson Tatum. Niang has had success on winning teams such as the Jazz, 76ers and Cavs. He hopes to make a positive impact on the Celtics, the same way he's done for other teams in the past few seasons. MORE NBA NEWS: Former Laker says being traded to Mavericks was best moment of his career Celtics 2025 draft pick is behind only Tacko Fall in shocking NBA Draft Combine measurement Rockets sign elite defensive guard with 3.5 steals per 36 minutes Trail Blazers sign promising 22-year old/2022 first-round pick Kings re-sign 44 percent three-point shooter
USA Today
7 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
What Georges Niang is willing to do to help the Celtics in Jayson Tatum's absence
Boston Celtics power forward Georges Niang is very familiar with the winning tradition of the Green Team. The Massachusetts native grew up less than an hour away from TD Garden and knows Celtics fans always have high expectations, even when their star player, Jayson Tatum, is out indefinitely with an Achilles injury. Niang wants to honor that fact by preparing to help out in any way he can this summer. The NBA journeyman arrived in Boston earlier this offseason following a massive trade that moved former Celtics starter Kristaps Porzingis to the Atlanta Hawks. Since Niang was traded for a fan favorite, he realizes that his homecoming isn't exactly a cause for celebration among Celtics fans. To impress the Boston faithful, and atone for grabbing the knee of Celtics star Jaylen Brown back in the 2023 Eastern Conference Semifinals, Niang is committed to immediately contributing to winning. He said as much on the "OGs" podcast with former NBA vets Mike Miller and Udonis Haslem, emphasizing that being a part of a losing squad is a death sentence in Boston. "You don't want to be in Boston losing, that's for sure," he stressed. "What can I do this summer? Can I come in, in the best shape that I'm in, and also mentor, and kind of teach, and also learn — because (the Celtics) have won championships. And dial all that into one, and focus every day on how can I win the day, and then win games." While Niang's role with the Celtics wouldn't be that significant in prior seasons, it is for the 2025-26 campaign. Tatum is down, multiple starters from last season are gone, and Boston is no longer one of the deepest teams in the league. If Niang can hit his 3-pointers and hustle like he has along every other stop in his NBA career, perhaps Celtics fans will warm up to the New Englander. But, to earn that respect, winning is the ultimate key, and Niang understands that. Listen to "Havlicek Stole the Pod" on: Spotify: iTunes: YouTube:
