Georges Niang Learned The Hard Way How To Address Coach Quin Snyder

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – In the latest episode of the “Ingles Insight,” the podcast hosted by Utah Jazz guard Joe Ingles and his wife and former netball professional Renae Ingles, the couple was joined by Jazz teammate Georges Niang. Now in his fourth season in the NBA, Niang has bounced around between three teams before finally finding consistent minutes under coach Quin Synder.

Though Niang has found himself in Snyder’s rotation, their relationship hasn’t always been so smooth. Speaking to the Ingleses, Niang recalled his first interaction with his new coach after getting called up from the Jazz G-League affiliate Salt Lake City Stars.

“I think it was my first or second practice with [the Jazz] and I probably should have been a better judge of the situation but it just happened,” Niang admitted, “The Jazz were like 19-30, I had just come in and it was the middle of the season and coach had come over to me and was like, ‘Hey Georges,’ and I was like “What’s up, brother?”

🎧| 𝗖𝗥𝗢𝗦𝗦𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗥 𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗡𝗧@georgesniang20 joins #InglesInsight to talk about going from Iowa State to the NBA, how he's fit into the league + MORE!

» https://t.co/qkRHFIJuBz pic.twitter.com/YmQW7EyA66

— utahjazz (@utahjazz) April 29, 2020

Instantly, Niang said he recognized his mistake.

“I think I was trying to be super relaxed and laid back,” Niang remembered, “You want to come off with the first impression to your teammates like you’re chill, but not your coach–you want to be serious.”

As surprised as Niang might have been by his answer, the Jazz forward said that Snyder might have been the person most taken aback by the introduction.

“I was like ‘What’s up, brother?’ And he gave me this weird look, and I was like ‘Ah man,'” Niang recalled, “[Snyder] tells the story later that he went up to [Assistant Coach] Johnnie Bryant later and he was like ‘Who is this kid?'”

Minivan got moves 🚐💨 pic.twitter.com/mA1jJ6K4b9

— utahjazz (@utahjazz) March 8, 2020

Their first meeting wasn’t the last time Niang would misread the room.

Heading into a particularly tough film session with the team, Niang addressed Snyder by saying “Yeah bro!”

Snyder had a simple response.

“Watch yourself.”

Niang is the first basketball player to appear on the Ingles podcast, though Niang is the host of a podcast of his own titled “Drive and Dish.” With the NBA sidelined, the teammates have had extra time to host guests either in person or over a video call to conduct interviews.

The Ingleses have hosted several guests including Dr. Angela Dunn, the state of Utah’s leading epidemiologist, and Ty Burrell from TV’s “Modern Family.”

Niang has interviewed Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall, and teammates Jordan Clarkson and Donovan Mithcell.

Thank you for having me Georges! I had a blast talking about my love for Salt Lake City. ❤️ @utahjazz https://t.co/va3uP5xgp9

— SLC Mayor Erin Mendenhall (@slcmayor) April 10, 2020

Jazz fans will like Niang’s story about this time with former Jazzman Al Jefferson as a rookie with the Indiana Pacers. Jefferson is a fan of breakfast sandwiches and a late morning snafu forced Niang into a creative solution to keep the big man fed.