Oklahoma City • With small gyms and commercial travel, the G League has a scruffy reputation. But that doesn’t mean Georges Niang, the second-year forward currently traveling with the Jazz, doesn’t like seeing that he’s considered one of its best five players.
Early in the week, Niang was named to the All-G League first team: He averaged 19.7 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.3 assists while shooting 52 percent on 3-point attempts while helping turn around the season for the Salt Lake City Stars.
“Obviously you try to be the best wherever you’re at, whether that’s the G-League or wherever, and be the best at what you were brought in to do,” he said. “It couldn’t have been done without my teammates, my coaches and this organization to put me in the position I’m in.”
One of Utah’s success stories this season on a two-way deal, so is the league in which he’s developed.
The New York Times reported Tuesday that G League players will see their salaries (paid by the NBA) rise to $35,000 — from either $26,000 or $19,000 last season. That will be in addition to team-provided housing, insurance and food incentives.
Niang was a second-round pick in 2016, and was signed by the Indiana Pacers after training camp, so he had a year’s worth of NBA salary when he joined the Santa Cruz Warriors and the Stars this year. But other teammates struggled.
“You really have to pinch and squeeze wherever you’re at [at most places],” he said. “It’s not really like big cities that have a bunch of resources. It gets tough for some guys who don’t have a bunch of money. I’m glad that it’s started to improve, and I hope it will continue to improve.”
The Stars are a bit difference since they are located in the same market as their NBA team. It’s easy for two-way players to move back and forth between the Jazz and the Stars, and downtown housing is provided, as well as transportation via shuttle.
Even with a bump, the new G League salary will still be far below what some of the best European markets can offer for Americans who want to venture overseas. But the G League has ambitions of becoming a true developmental league, and many view the raises as a step in that direction.
Jazz coach Quin Snyder, who cut his teeth in Austin as a coach, sees it that way.
“The stronger the connection with the parent team, that’s begun to change the landscape,” There’s more the sense that they’re in a minor league system like baseball. The development path is much clearer, and the salary is a reflection of that.”
Much ado about nothing
The most talked about injuries leading to Game 2 were to stars Paul George and Donovan Mitchell. Both exited the game in the fourth quarter of Game 1 — Mitchell with a toe injury and George with a hip injury — and both were listed as questionable entering Wednesday.
And yet, both players started for their respective teams, showing limited signs of their respective injuries. Corey Brewer, who was also limited in Thunder practices, also started.
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