One Sixers stud from first few weeks: Georges Niang
Georges Niang has gone above and beyond expectations as the nominal Mike Scott replacement. He’s a stretch four, yes, but he’s much more than that. On top of his elite 3-point shooting (40.5 percent), Niang has expanded his skill set in unforeseen ways. He’s an excellent screen-and-roll threat, with surprisingly sharp decision-making skills. He can barrel downhill with his 6-foot-7, 230-pound frame and score at the rim, pop out for a jumper, or locate teammates on the move.
It’s that last point — his passing — that has been most unexpected. Niang has always been a heady player, but the breadth of his playmaking skills was buried beneath the Utah depth chart. The Sixers’ success this season has been predicated on having multiple willing passers who simultaneously keep turnovers low. Niang has been huge in that respect.
Niang has also replaced Scott’s value off the court as a veteran leader and fan favorite. Scott’s primary contribution to the Sixers was his spunk and energy. He rallied the fanbase and played hard-as-hell basketball. Niang has been much the same, energizing the crowd, quickly becoming a fan favorite, and cementing the Minivan as Philadelphia’s new spirit animal.
The Sixers’ depth has been far and away the biggest positive of the young season. For the first time in the Embiid era, this is a legitimately deep team. There are 11 or 12 rotation-level players, but more importantly, there are seven or eight starting-level players. Niang has poured in 12.5 points per game in a respectable 22.9 minutes per contest. His per-minute production is extremely impressive.
Very few contracts around the league will match Niang’s current value — two years, $6.7 million for a player who looks well worth the mid-level exception (or more) right now. He was arguably the Sixers’ most impactful summer signing.