Mar 20, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Georges Niang (20) reacts after he was whistled for a technical foul in the second quarter against the Miami Heat at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

'They Don’t Give a Crap If I’m From Boston' – Boston Celtics’ New Signing Gets 100% Honest on Replacing Kristaps Porzingis

Originally posted on Hardwood Heroics | By Jordan Samar | Last updated Jul 24, 2025 9:40 AM ET

Georges Niang is aware that a lot of Boston Celtics fans (still) do not like him after he got into an altercation with Jaylen Brown during Game 7 of the 2023 Eastern Conference semifinals, when he was still with the Philadelphia 76ers.

The 32-year-old Lawrence, Massachusetts native joined the Boston Celtics this offseason as part of the Kristaps Porzingis trade, and Niang is aware of the big shoes he’ll have to fill, starting this upcoming season.

“You know how tough Boston fans are, they don’t give a s**t if I’m from Boston or not,” Niang said on The OGs podcast with Mike Miller and Udonis Haslem. “‘You just took our Unicorn and replaced it with a Minivan. Get the f**k outta here.’ I’m like public enemy No. 1. They’re like, ‘What is this? This ain’t shiny. It’s got scratches on it, man.”‘

NBA Trade Rumors: Cleveland Cavaliers Looking To Add Hawk's Swingman 4 Feb 4, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Georges Niang (20) shoots against Boston Celtics guard Jrue Holiday (4) in the fourth quarter at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images

If there’s any consolation for Niang, he might have gained some new Boston Celtics fans after he met up with Brown this summer during a WNBA match between the Connecticut Sun and the Indiana Fever.

Boston Celtics exec makes playoff guarantee amid drastic roster changes

An anonymous Boston Celtics executive still believes that the team can qualify for the playoffs next season despite the wholesale roster changes they’ve made this summer and Jayson Tatum’s Achilles injury.

Boston Celtics: Jayson Tatum Shares 2-Worded Message After Celtics' Impressive Win vs. Spurs 2 Mar 24, 2025; Sacramento, California, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) pumps his fist after the Celtics made a basket at the end of the first quarter against the Sacramento Kings at the Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images

“Still figuring it all out. As you’ve noted, we’re still above the second apron. We won’t finish there. It sucked to trade Jrue (Holiday) and KP (Kristaps Porzingis), because we loved those guys and they loved Boston,” the exec said via Keith Smith of Spotrac. “But it was being brutally honest that we aren’t the same level of team without Jayson (Tatum).”

“We’ll be a playoff team, but…you know. It’ll come for every team that lands where we did. You can’t be over the second apron and not a title contender. It’s just poor management for both the short- and long-term. The frozen pick and pick dropping stuff is real,” he added.