GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS MEDIA CONFERENCE

September 28, 2026

Georges Niang

Media Conference

Q. Having not played last year, just kind of what was the summer like, and just how badly do you want to be back out there on the court this year?

GEORGES NIANG: Yeah, it was a whole process. It helps you realize how much you love what you're doing when you're not able to do it. You know, I have a lot of people to be thankful for that helped me get me back on my feet during the summer and being healthy, and then, you know, Mike, Kirk, Joe, Steve, everyone that was in the process of getting me back here, I'm extremely thankful for.

This summer was a grind, but I'm super thankful to be back healthy and ready to play basketball.

Q. Do you feel like you're back 100%?

GEORGES NIANG: Yeah, would you trust me if I didn't say I was?

Q. I would trust you.

GEORGES NIANG: Yeah, I'm 100%.

Q. When you look at the make-up of this team, where do you fit into the role here with everything that's going on?

GEORGES NIANG: Yeah, I mean, I think you look at the culture that they've built around here of, you know, guys with high basketball IQ, being able to take and make threes. I feel like that's what I've been able to do throughout my career, so I think I've been able to fit multiple roles, wear many hats, and I think here whether who is available or not available and Steve is going to play multiple guys. He's not afraid to throw anybody out there. Just doing what I'm asked and taking and making shots, being a facilitator, being a guy that has high basketball IQ, and winning games.

I mean, I think it was kind of a no-brainer when this opportunity came to the table.

Q. Can you tell us what's your link and your history with Senegal?

GEORGES NIANG: So I have my Senegalese passport. I was planning on playing with them this summer. Unfortunately, I will to get a job before I, you know, committed to doing that. Previously I committed to them and thought I was, but I'm looking forward to playing for them this summer. I know I've said that for the past five summers, but this upcoming summer, as long as health isn't a problem, I'll be playing for Senegal.

My dad was born and raised in Senegal, and I have a good relationship with Gana, the head coach, and Makhtar, the GM. I'm super excited about that opportunity.

Q. So if they make it to the next World Cup?

GEORGES NIANG: I'm there. It's in Qatar, right? You and me first class. Let's go, brother.

Q. You were here for camp in 2017, and you're an OG now. Looking back, what was that like? That was KD's first camp here when he was --

GEORGES NIANG: No, no, I think they just won a championship.

Q. It was after that, okay.

GEORGES NIANG: I'm sorry. I didn't let you finish.

Q. What were your memories of those times?

GEORGES NIANG: I just had gotten cut from the Indiana Pacers. So I think coming here and seeing that they won a championship and then seeing how they worked every single day, I was, like, oh, there are some things I got to change. So that was great for me to see that and how they worked and their preparation and what they did on a day-to-day basis and how they saw the game. That was huge for me to kind of -- I know it didn't work out here at that point, but it allowed me -- the people here that are still here allowed me to grow and turn into the player that I was.

Sure, I got to develop some things at the other places that I've been, but this was kind of like the starting point of, okay, these are the things and the tools that you need to be a consistent NBA player that has longevity.

Now this is year 11. I'm, like, I don't know how this all came full circle, but I'm super thankful.

Q. Georges, it seems like, you know, in the past just a lot of winning organizations or kind of teams that are in position to win, playoff perennials have sought you out at times. Do you have a sense on perspective at this point in your career, why that's been of the tangibles and intangibles necessary beyond spotting up and knocking down shots?

GEORGES NIANG: Yeah, I think more or less is this is great, you threw me a softball. I get to brag about myself, so that was awesome.

No, I think the biggest thing for me is obviously being extremely competitive and serious, but also being a guy in the locker room that can also lighten up the mood. Seasons are long. It's an 82-game, grueling season. For you guys it was, like, 100 games. But to be able to be that person in the locker room that keeps the moment light, but also is competitive enough to, you know, go at people, but at the same time I think for me as I grew up on playing basketball to win.

When you put your all towards winning, my game isn't the sexiest, so I'm not going to get all the marketing deals. So I'm not concerned about that. Winning is at the forefront of everything that I do when I step into the facility and even when I leave.

Maybe that's the reason I've had some success. I haven't won a championship, so, you know, I figured why not? Steph has a bunch, so -- Draymond has a bunch, so...

Q. About the locker room, this locker room has a lot of younger players, older players. How do you kind of navigate that? A little on the older side, but how do you navigate that?

GEORGES NIANG: I don't know if you checked my age, but I'm old. Yeah, you can put me in that category. Some days I like to act like I'm a 21-year-old, and the other like I'm 33. I think you can all fit in.

I think the only thing that I'm really missing out on is some of the young, young guys, the music they listen to I'm a little off on, but I think you have so many guys that have seen so many things that they all blend. We had a great time at our little mini-camp in San Diego, and you get to see how good Steph, Draymond, Jimmy are at just -- and Al, you know, bringing everybody in, so everybody feels comfortable. That's the least of my worries, the age gap. We all speak the same language.

Q. How is your Gen Z slang?

GEORGES NIANG: Cap? Is that one? Hella. I learned that one. Yeah, so I'm good, right? Yeah, I'm in, yeah.

Q. You've had a pretty nice three throughout your career. What's behind your art of shooting the three, and that has made you so consistent over the years?

GEORGES NIANG: Yeah, I think it's being consistent with your approach, right? There's times where you go through slumps and doubt yourself, but I think it's going up there and every shot has a one-shot life, right? No matter what it is, I have to get up there and shoot the next one. When you have that mentality or when I learned that mentality, that's when things continued to progress for me, because I think there's a ton of better shooters than me out there, but I think mentally you can really put yourself in a mental pretzel. I refuse to go down that road.

So I'm going to step up there. If it's the right shot, I'm going shoot it. If it goes in, I'll probably play a little more. If it doesn't, then I'll be sitting by Steve.

Q. You're like a 40% career shooter from three, and is that something that started in high school, in college? At what point did you --

GEORGES NIANG: Yeah, I mean, I think the way the game was flowing, I was telling someone out there, I used to, like, look up to Tracy McGrady growing up. Someone is, like, you should look up at someone more your size. I started watching Kevin Love. As I watched him, he's a fluid three-point shooter. That's kind of as I was younger. You played back to the basket. So shooting has been in my game since I was in high school.

Q. As a shooter, since high school, as a 40% career shooter, how do you view stuff from afar, and now seeing them a little more up close, I'm curious your thoughts on him as --

GEORGES NIANG: Have you ever watched him work out? It's real discouraging. I thought I was really good. Then I watch him, and I'm, like, Ah, there's a lot of work to do.

I think watching someone like that, you will never or I don't think I'll ever see someone with my own two eyes that's going to be that special, right? Shooting three-pointers is one aspect of his game that he's extremely elite at, probably the best ever to do it. But there are so many other things that he does on the basketball court.

I think I just did an interview a month ago, and I was telling everybody, you could be up ten with 30 seconds to go, and then Steph walks on the court and you're, like, okay, like, let's put all five of our guys on him because he's just that dangerous. He's that good. His ability to shoot, you think he's joking around, like, when he's in the practice facility throwing up, and then he makes it and you're, like, oh, he was actually, like, working on that shot.

He's super talented. Great basketball player. Even better person.

Yeah, probably the best shooter we'll ever see.

Q. Did you say "mental pretzel"?

GEORGES NIANG: Yeah. Am I going to get canceled for saying that?

Q. I would love to hear what that means.

GEORGES NIANG: Oh, I mean -- yeah, I would just say there's times where you got to fight through adversity and sometimes, you know, you overthink things and put yourself in a mental pretzel. You know, like a straight jacket. I'm going to get in trouble. I got to go.