The first week of Georges Niang’s Warriors tenure has been rough enough that Golden State already has to at least think about the exit door.
Signed to a one-year minimum deal in free agency, Niang has opened his run in San Francisco by missing all 12 of his 3-point tries through three games. That includes a 0-for-5 night from deep in 23 minutes off the bench in Saturday’s loss to the Phoenix Suns. For a player whose calling card is supposed to be floor spacing, that is a brutal beginning.
There was reason for the Warriors to believe the shot would travel with him. Niang is a career 40% three-point shooter, and he connected on 40.6% of his attempts between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Atlanta Hawks during the 2024-25 season. On paper, that made him a sensible minimum-contract pickup.
But there’s another part of the story too: Niang is coming off what appears to be a long layoff after dealing with a foot injury, and he doesn’t bring much else that jumps off the page. He’s slow-footed on defense, and there are questions about whether he can hold up there. He’s not a playmaker, not much of a rebounder for his position, and not a player who can really create for himself.
The Warriors still seem willing to give him a chance to settle in. After Saturday’s loss, Steve Kerr backed the veteran forward.
"George will find his way. You know he hasn't played in a year basically with the injuries last year, so he doesn't have his legs underneath him yet. He's such a good basketball player and a perfect fit for us," Kerr said.
Even so, the early returns are hard to ignore. Niang was supposed to help Golden State’s spacing with Moses Moody out, but instead he’s part of why the Warriors are only 17th in three-point percentage so far this season after ranking 20th last year.
That makes the next few weeks important. If the shot starts falling, the Warriors can breathe easier.
If it doesn’t, there’s a straightforward business decision waiting in the wings. Niang’s contract doesn’t become fully guaranteed until January 10, which gives Golden State a chance to waive him and absorb only a small cap hit if the fit never improves.
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