Celtics

Mass. native Georges Niang doesn’t expect to be embraced by Celtics fans this season

"They’re like, ‘You just took our unicorn and replaced him with a minivan. Get the [expletive] out of here."

Georges Niang was acquired by Boston as part of the Kristaps Porzingis trade. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

July 24, 2025

2 minutes to read

The 2025-26 season figures to be a homecoming of sorts for Celtics big man Georges Niang, who was born in Lawrence and grew up in Methuen as a fan of the C’s.

But, the 32-year-old forward doesn’t expect to receive a warm reception at the start of the year at TD Garden.

“I’m a Boston kid,” Niang said during an appearance on “The OGs” podcast. “I then get traded for Kristaps Porzingis. [Podcast host and former Heat forward Udonis Haslem] knows how tough Boston fans are. They don’t give a [expletive] if I’m from Boston or not. They’re like, ‘You just took our unicorn and replaced him with a minivan. Get the [expletive] out of here. … They want superstars.”

Beyond having the unenviable task of replacing Porzingis in Boston’s now diminished frontcourt, Niang also has some history as a Celtics antagnoist.

During Boston’s Game 7 win over the 76ers during the 2023 Eastern Conference Semifinals, Jaylen Brown was tripped up after Niang – who was sitting on the Sixers’ bench — reached out from his seat and appeared to grab Brown’s leg to slow him down at the start of a fast-break opportunity.

Niang grabbing Jaylen Brown’s leg pic.twitter.com/zRR4MY8toG
— Pull up shoot  (@NElGHT_) May 14, 2023

Brown vented at the Sixers’ bench after the play, with both Brown and Niang eventually assessed technicals after the play in question was reviewed.

“I think he just thought, like, ‘Maybe let me just try to grab him to slow him down a little bit,’” Brown said of Niang postgame. “I don’t think Niang’s a bad guy or anything. I work out with him in the offseason. I just think he just got caught up in the intensity of the game and made a play and I responded to it.

“I don’t know which way I should have responded to it. But if I didn’t do anything it probably would have played on. … I don’t think Niang was thinking when he did it. I don’t think he’s a bad guy, just caught up in the emotion of the game.”

Still, Niang could offer some value to the Celtics as a veteran option off the bench this upcoming season.

Over 79 games (three starts) between the Cavaliers and Hawks last season, Niang averaged 9.9 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.4 assists. He should fit in well on a team coached by Joe Mazzulla, considering that Niang converted on 40.6 percent of his shots from 3-point range in 2024-25.

“Boston has done a good job of when guys miss games — it’s their culture,” Niang said. “Like Georges, what can you do to maximize what you have to help them win games? Because you don’t want to be in Boston losing. That’s how I’ve transitioned my mindset.

“What can I do this summer? Can I come in, in the best shape that I’m in and also mentor and kind of teach and also learn because they’ve won championships and kind of dial all that into one and focus every day on how can I win the day and win games? It’s kind of been like a full-circle moment from getting trade from Cleveland to Atlanta to then back to Boston.”