Georges Niang’s early run with the Golden State Warriors didn’t do much to quiet the Otto Porter Jr. talk. In fact, after the team stumbled out to an 0-3 start, the comparison looked a little rough on Porter’s end. But over the Warriors’ current six-game winning streak, Niang has started to look a lot more like the kind of veteran floor-spacer Golden State had in mind.
The parallels go beyond the position and the shooting profile. Niang, like Porter did five years ago, arrived in Golden State after a foot injury wiped out his previous season.
That context helps explain why his first three games were so uneven. He shot 31.8% from the floor and missed all 12 of his three-point tries during that opening stretch.
Since then, though, Niang has become one of the clearest examples of the Warriors’ turnaround. Over the last six games, he has averaged 9.3 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 20.8 minutes per game while shooting 53.8% from the field and 45.8% from deep. He’s doing more than standing in the corner and waiting for the ball to find him.
That’s the part that makes the Porter comparison fit. Niang isn’t winning with explosive plays or above-the-rim moments. He’s using his size and intelligence on defense, then leaning on the threat of his jumper to attack closeouts and make the next read when the defense overreacts.
Porter’s Golden State stint offers a useful benchmark. In 2021-22, he averaged 8.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 63 regular season games for the Warriors, then started the final three games of the Finals as they beat the Boston Celtics.
The comparison also points to something bigger than one player. Niang’s rise has become part of a broader resemblance to that 2021-22 championship feel. No one is pretending the ending will be the same, but the recent form and the overall atmosphere around the group are hard to miss.
There’s a sense of joy, excitement and connectedness around this team right now. The Warriors have built their six-game winning streak on a Strength in Numbers approach, with a deep bench helping cover the ongoing absences of Jimmy Butler, Kristaps Porzingis and Moses Moody.
That’s why the Niang-Porter link matters. It’s not just a neat player comp - it’s a symbol of what Golden State is trying to recreate, and a reason the Warriors will be eager to keep it rolling when they host the Orlando Magic at Chase Center on Saturday night.
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Franz Wagner and Jamal Cain helped keep the Magic competitive, making sure the night never turned into a simple celebration of Curry milestones. Even so, the latest mark was a reminder of how steady his shooting has become over time, and how rare it is for any player to keep producing at this level while the Warriors continue to lean on him in the middle of another long season. [Read more 🡒]
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Orlandos edge on the offensive glass was a reminder of a problem Golden State cannot keep brushing aside, especially in tighter games where second chances can swing everything. The Warriors escaped because Curry took over when the pressure peaked, but the way the Magic kept creating extra possessions showed the kind of issue that can still haunt this team if the late-game shot-making ever cools off. [Read more 🡒]
Warriors Keep Getting Reminded Of Their Biggest Roster Hole
Wendell Carter Jr. gave the Warriors another reminder of the problem they have been trying to work around, turning in a strong showing with 19 points and 11 rebounds, including six on the offensive glass. For Golden State, nights like that only sharpen the sense that the roster still has a clear hole in the middle, especially when an opposing center can control the paint and create second chances.
Carters name keeps surfacing because he fits the kind of frontcourt answer the Warriors need, and the discussion only grows more interesting with the Kristaps Porzingis situation hanging over the conversation. Orlandos struggles and financial pressure add another layer to the possibility of a deal, making Carter and Porzingis part of a bigger trade picture that could help both sides if the right framework ever comes together. [Read more 🡒]