Cavaliers: Georges Niang embraces underdog role, plays with chip on shoulder

Georges Niang and Max Strus are cut from the same cloth. Things didn't come easily for the players, who joined the Cavaliers in the offseason. Cavs president of basketball operations Koby Altman said in the preseason they both play with an edge to them. Niang, who matched his season high with 12 points in a loss at Sacramento on Monday night, agrees with that statement. "For me and Max, we've been the underdog our whole careers," he said. "Max came from Division II, then Division I, undrafted, then cut, and had to make his way up. He's made a real nice career for himself. "I look at my journey somewhat the same. I was drafted and cut, played in the G League. When you've been told no, cut and told you're not good enough so many times, you play with a nastiness. I take that edge into everything I do on the court. Off the court, I would say I'm a pretty nice guy." The 6-foot-7, 230-pounder said he tries to bring that edge every day in games and practice. "I remember when people were telling me I wasn't good enough," Niang said. "I'm never going to let anyone take this away from me." The players also share the same agent, Mark Bartelstein. "Clearly when that stuff was going on (in free agency), we were talking back and forth," Niang said. "I'm happy I get to play alongside these young guys. Max is gritty, tough and has playoff experience. You can never count that stuff out." Niang, 30, said he and Strus "fit the culture and mold of this city and this organization. Max definitely fits that." Niang has appeared in all 10 games for the Cavs (4-6), who were smashed by the Kings 132-120 on Monday. Cleveland has a chance to finish 2-2 on the road trip by beating Portland tonight at the Moda Center. The Iowa State product has averaged 6.2 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.0 assists per game. He's shooting .338 from the field and .267 from the 3-point line. Niang started the season by missing his first nine 3-pointers. "George is a hell of a basketball player," Strus said. "George will be just fine. Trust me. He's a heck of a basketball player. You'll see that sooner than later." Niang has shot .400 or better in each of the last five seasons. He's happy to be a Cav. "The biggest thing that drew me to Cleveland is the winning culture it has started to build with the young core group that they have," Niang said. "They have stars that are young. The trajectory of this team looks like it's going to be winning for a long time. I wanted to be a part of that. Clearly, they noted that shooting was a need for them. That's something I can do. "I've played in blue-collar cities before. That's where I fit. Cleveland fit that for me. It was a mutual love at first sight. I talked about the trajectory of this team. Each offseason they're taking steps to get better. I'm glad I can be a part of that building process to win a championship, not just make the playoffs." He explained how he got saddled with his nickname, Minivan. He said it started while playing in Utah with Cavs guard Donovan Mitchell. "I had a chance to dunk the ball in practice," he said. "You can imagine how ugly it looked when I went up to do that. When we got to the locker room, Donovan was like, 'Oh, man, what was that?' I said, 'You know, Donovan, you're like a Ferrari. I need a couple laps around the block to get warmed up, kind of like a minivan.' "(Utah's) sideline reporter said, 'I like that.' It kind of stuck and they made T-shirts. Six years later, I'm here explaining it to you. It's self-deprecating. I need to cut that out. I make fun of myself all the time. I can accept it." Bob Finnan can be reached at rfinnan30@gmail.com and follow him @BobCavsinsider on X.