Rookie Georges Niang learning at his own pace

INDIANAPOLIS – Sitting at his small locker, Georges Niang looked at the box score after his first NBA experience. The Indiana Pacers defeated the New Orleans Pelicans in their preseason opener Oct. 4, and Niang, a rookie, played 19 minutes. He smiled and was glad to get through those first anxious moments of playing against taller, faster, stronger NBA players. Niang knew exactly how to express those early minutes on the court.

“When I first got out there,” he said then, “I was a little deer in the headlights.”

The pace, of course, was blistering for Niang. He tried to remember everything – coach Nate McMillan’s game plan, the specific player he was supposed to guard and what spot to run to on offense when the Pacers were in transition – but he looked, and performed, like the typical rookie.

The veteran Pacers watched Niang in the first half of the game and gave him a small, but vital, message: Slow down.

Since then, Niang, the Pacers’ lone draft pick in June, has performed and learned at the trajectory the team felt he could when they took him with the 50th overall selection. He finished the exhibition against the Pelicans with 12 points and eight rebounds. He even effectively guarded New Orleans’ Buddy Hield, the rookie the Pelicans chose with the sixth overall pick.

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Niang, 23, is not the flashiest player from an athletic standpoint on the Pacers’ roster. He is, in fact at 6-8 and 230 pounds, far from it. Yet he has produced encouraging performances in the preseason, whether in games or during the Pacers’ scrimmages. He put together a stellar 12 minutes against the Chicago Bulls on Oct. 8. As a stretch power forward, he scorched the Bulls’ reserves for 16 points, including four 3-pointers.

Yes, his shooting form is elongated and funky-looking, but Niang shot 50 percent from the field and 42.9 percent from behind the arc in preseason.

“I just really try to get out there and play at my tempo, and that’s the biggest thing they’ve been preaching to me,” Niang said Saturday.

Niang listed the veterans who have helped him the most since training camp started: Rodney Stuckey, Al Jefferson, Thaddeus Young, C.J. Miles and Monta Ellis.

Niang, who spent four years at Iowa State, understands his circumstances are better than most typical late second-round picks. In July, he signed a three-year, $2.6 million contract. His rookie year, worth $650,000, is fully guaranteed. He is surrounded by older players who have shown him what professionalism looks like. No rookie, don’t just be here on time – be earlier than on time.

McMillan is not surprised by Niang’s progression. He is pleased with how Niang’s play and passing ability encourages ball movement. And although Niang hasn’t yet defended the tallest players in the NBA, McMillan said his rookie hasn’t been a liability on defense.

“When I saw him work out for the first time before the draft, I just felt like that kid could play,” McMillan said Saturday. “His basketball IQ is about as high as any veteran player right now. He has continued to show us that. He knows how to play and he can play with anybody. He had a good summer, he’s had a good training camp and he’s done some good things when he’s gotten the opportunity to play.”

McMillan is not the first NBA coach Niang has impressed.

In 2011, an emerging coach at Iowa State with NBA experience named Fred Hoiberg began recruiting Niang. Hoiberg went to Boston to watch the BABC AAU team that featured Wayne Selden Jr. and Nerlens Noel. He was fascinated with how Niang fared against more athletic players.

“I watched him the first day and he was just going to work on Nerlens – up-and-unders, right-hand hook (shot), left-hand hook, hitting 3s,” Hoiberg said of Niang earlier this month. “I offered him right there on the spot, got him out on an unofficial visit and he committed to us right there. He was one of the best signings that we ever had and the ultimate competitor.”

At Iowa State, Niang improved in almost every statistical category throughout his four years. He ended his college career as the school’s leader in games played, he led the Cyclones to two Big 12 tournament titles and he was the tournament’s most outstanding player in 2015. Hoiberg left Iowa State in June 2015 to coach the Bulls but continued to help Niang prepare for his chance at an NBA career.

“Georges is one of my all-time favorites,” said Hoiberg, who played 10 years in the NBA. “I hope he has a great, long career. I think he’s worn (No.) 32 in my honor. He’s always somebody that if he ever needs anything from me, I’ll always be there for him just based on what he did and how he helped me with my career.”

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As the 50th pick, Pacers veteran Lavoy Allen said Niang has no pressure to outperform expectations in his rookie season.

“No one expects anything out of you, anyway,” Allen said Monday. “They don’t expect many second-rounders to stick around in this league.”

Allen knows from experience. He was chosen with the 50th pick in the 2011 draft by the Philadelphia 76ers. Allen, a conventional power forward, said his advice to Niang is to play freely when given the opportunity. He explained that is what has led to his success as he enters his sixth season.

“He panned out pretty well,” Niang said of Allen. “If I can follow in his steps, that won’t be too bad of a career, right?”

Niang is not sure when he will play in his first NBA regular-season game since he is not in McMillan’s rotation, which was expected, after training camp. He has envisioned the moment for most of his life and he plans to continue to learn from his wise teammates, especially after his preseason debut.

“My vision has sort of changed,” he said. “I’m not going to be out there shooting fadeaway 3s, but I’m excited. I’m excited for this season to start and I’m excited to be a part of this team.”

Call IndyStar reporter Nate Taylor at (317) 444-6484. Follow him on Twitter: @ByNateTaylor.

Pacers’ Georges Niang plans to overcome athletic limitations with IQ, versatility

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