DETROIT–Philadelphia 76ers forward Georges Niang is one of the better shooters in the NBA as he is a guy who can fire it up and knock down shots at a high rate from distance.
After knocking down three triples in Sunday’s win over the Detroit Pistons, Niang is now shooting 42% from deep on close to six attempts per game and the Sixers benefit greatly from his willingness to shoot the ball and he has helped James Harden out on the floor as well.
With All-Star weekend quickly approaching (Feb. 15-17), the 3-point shootout is a real possibility for Niang. The fact that All-Star weekend is in Utah, his former home, makes it a nice possibility for him as well.
The interest in the 3-point shootout
“Absolutely, I would definitely consider that,” said Niang. “I think that would be a cool event. I’ve never done something like that so I definitely would be excited to take part in that.”
Now the question is, how does he go about it? Niang isn’t sure how the picking of the contestants works. He just goes out there and does his job.
How does he get chosen?
“To be honest, I’m so simple,” he laughed. “I just (expletive) go out there and shoot the ball and try to make every shot that I shoot out there. All that other stuff, it would be fun to take part in it, I’d really enjoy it, especially with being back in Utah, but I just try to control what I can control.”
Niang then added that maybe the team and agents have something to do with it, but he isn’t concerned with it.
“Behind the scenes, I’m sure maybe agents, the team does stuff like that,” he added. “Honestly, it’s something I’ve always wanted to do, but what goes into it, I’m not sure, but you have to make shots so that’s the one thing I’m focusing on.”
Does the fact that it’s in Utah play a role for Niang?
“That would be cool to go back there and take part in All-Star weekend with that type of event would be extremely cool,” he stated. “Even if it was anywhere, but obviously, the fact that you tie those two together would be pretty cool.”
The importance of the 3-point shootout
“I think I’ve always been obsessed with All-Star weekend,” he finished. “Whether if it was watching back in the day, Rashard Lewis shooting in the 3-point contest. Steph Curry or any of those other guys. I grew up being from Boston so seeing Larry Bird see what he did on that last shot. The 3-point contest, obviously, if you’re an NBA fan, you’ve paid attention to it and watched it. If you ever get the chance to be a part of that, it would be an honor.”
Story originally appeared on Sixers Wire
