Stephen Curry says Warriors have added ‘high IQ player’ who he always respected playing against him

The 7-3 Warriors are up to fourth in the Western Conference, a prospect that looked unthinkable after their opening three games.

Stephen Curry scored 41 points in the win, and after the game he used his press conference to talk up one of the team’s unheralded teammates.

Curry spoke about Georges Niang, a veteran signed with the Warriors in free agency in August.

Niang has shown his spirit, already getting involved in confrontations on the court, but Curry believes his style of play is most valuable to the team.

He said: “He’s that type of high IQ player who, he would tell you, he’s overcome some physical limitations in the way of, you have to outsmart the game, and that’s how he’s made it this far in his career.

“And from Santa Cruz all the way, every stop that he’s been at, when he’s been healthy, he’s a significant or valuable piece.

“We’ve seen it on the other side in the years past; when he’s been healthy, he’s a guy that you respect and when he comes off the bench, like, you got to be aware of what he can do. But his style matches how we play.

“His shooting threat spaces the floor. He’s great, you know, read and react. And then to your point, his attitude and his toughness, definitely, it gets us charged up for sure because you have a veteran that understands how to win.”

Niang contributed a useful 11 points from the bench in the Warriors’ 126-119 win.

How Niang benefited with Santa Cruz

Georges Niang was drafted by the Indiana Pacers in 2016, but lasted only one year before he was cut.

He signed with the Warriors before being moved onto their affiliate team the Santa Cruz Warriors, and used the spell to shape his development.

Niang eventually got a shot with the Jazz in 2018, where he established himself as a useful NBA player, before spells with the 76ers, Cavaliers, and Hawks.

Now back in the Bay, Niang is making the most of his new opportunity. He has Stephen Curry’s approval – and on this team, that’s everything.

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