Cavaliers' Georges Niang praises teammates' sacrifices as Cleveland surges to a historic start (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
The Cleveland Cavaliers are off to a historic start this season, improving to 31-4 following a 115-105 victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday. Cleveland became the first team since the 2015-16 Golden State Warriors to win 30 games before losing five.
Led by Donovan Mitchell and the continued growth of Evan Mobley and Darius Garland, the Cavaliers have established themselves as one of the NBA's elite under head coach Kenny Atkinson. Jarrett Allen’s dominance inside and the contributions from a deep bench of shooters have turned Cleveland into a powerhouse.
Georges Niang, one of the Cavaliers' primary sharpshooters, emphasized the importance of a team-first mentality and how it has driven Cleveland’s early-season dominance. Niang praised the collective buy-in from the roster during an exclusive interview.
“Sacrifice. Guys are willing to do the little things every day and not make it about themselves. Many are content with sacrificing to help others flourish,” Niang told RG. “We live in a world of instant gratification, but Kenny has done a great job letting everyone be themselves. When guys sacrifice, we celebrate it. Whether it's running to the corner to open up a shot or defending hard, those are winning plays. Celebrating small victories makes guys realize their efforts lead to success, and that culture drives winning.”
Cleveland leads the league in offensive rating at 122.5 and trails only Memphis in points per game (123.2). The Cavaliers also lead the NBA in three-point shooting, converting 40.4% on 40.3 attempts per game. With Mitchell and Garland penetrating defenses and creating opportunities for Mobley, averaging 18.9 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game, Cleveland’s offense is difficult to stop.
Diversifying Their Play
Niang underscored how the Cavaliers’ offensive success is rooted in their ability to stretch the floor, forcing defenses to make tough decisions. He pointed to the team’s emphasis on spacing as a critical factor that opens driving lanes for their stars and creates better shot opportunities for role players like himself.
“I think it's just our spacing. It's allowed the guys to evolve into players they've always wanted to be,” Niang said.
“The league is shifting toward more three-pointers, but we're still taking advantage of two-point opportunities, layups, and mid-range shots when necessary. We're making teams come out of their compact defenses and guard us in space.”
Mobley’s ability to shift between playing inside and stepping out to the perimeter has forced opponents to adapt defensively. Niang detailed how Mobley’s adaptability creates mismatches and opens opportunities for Cleveland’s offensive core.
“When you look at how Evan plays at the five, sometimes drifting from the dunker spot to the three-point line, it confuses the opposing bigs. They think they have a free helper, but we kick it to Evan, and he's shooting at a high clip,” Niang said. “It's all about creating confidence and space for our stars to operate while role players plug in, hit threes, and drive to make the right play.”
Niang’s role as a shooter and secondary playmaker has been crucial. Known for his willingness to shoot off the catch, Niang understands the importance of keeping possessions fluid. Niang explained his approach to seizing offensive opportunities. Allen, averaging 13.6 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 1.8 assists this season, has been a consistent presence inside, providing second-chance opportunities.
“Our stars and playmakers expend a lot of energy to create those shots,” Niang said. “Sometimes, that's the best shot we can generate at that point in the shot clock. I have to be willing to take and make those shots. Even if I miss, we have Evan, J.A., and other offensive rebounders who can give us another possession.”
Niang’s shooting has picked up as he’s trusted the results will come by sticking with his process. Following his 15-point performance against Dallas, he is averaging 8.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.6 assists while shooting 48.1% from the field and 38.7% from three-point range.
Niang’s ability to attack closeouts and turn defensive pressure into scoring or playmaking opportunities has been a crucial element of Cleveland’s offensive versatility. His ability to read defenses and either finish at the rim, get to a floater, or find open teammates brings helpful layers to the Cavaliers' offense to play off advantages.
“It's about continuing to be a playmaker when chased off the line,” Niang explained. “I don't want to settle for floaters, even if I'm hitting them at a high clip. Penetrating, drawing defenders, and kicking out for open threes is the goal. Those are high-percentage shots.”
Overall Team Growth
Mobley’s growth has transformed Cleveland’s offense. Alongside Allen, Mobley’s passing, shooting, and finishing complement the backcourt play of Mitchell and Garland. Niang likened Mobley’s skill set to that of a Hall of Famer.
“Tapping into Evan allows us to expand our offense. J.A. is elite in the dunker spot, short roll, passing, and rim protection. Evan complements that,” Niang said. “He's evolving into someone with a skill set like Kevin Garnett. I don’t want to disrespect KG, but Evan’s abilities are impressive. Donovan and Darius have been phenomenal, and Evan opens up new dimensions for them.”
Cleveland ranks seventh in defensive efficiency, allowing 109.8 points per 100 possessions. Niang sees potential for even greater results if the team emphasizes being tied together in help defense.
“Consistency. Sticking to habits that have made us an elite defense,” Niang said. “Team defense is our niche. We have great individual defenders, but helping each other out and sticking to the process is what will sustain us.”
Niang also made the case for several teammates to receive All-Star recognition due to their sacrifices, leading to the Cavaliers' league-best record. Mitchell trails only LaMelo Ball in fan voting for Eastern Conference All-Star voting with 718,084 votes. Meanwhile, Mobley earned 145,623 votes, positioning him 10th among East frontcourt players, while neither Garland nor Allen cracked the leaderboard.
“When are we going to celebrate winning? These guys sacrifice stats to help us win,” Niang said. “This isn't an individual sport, but All-Star is an individual accolade. Donovan, Evan, Darius, and J.A. are All-Stars. Sharing the wealth and being team players doesn’t diminish what they’re capable of.”
MVP Conversation
While Mitchell surely will be an All-Star, Niang believes he should be in the MVP conversation and deserves an All-NBA First-Team nod. Mitchell has remained highly productive, averaging 23.3 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 4.6 assists, but naturally, his counting stats aren’t as gaudy as some of the league’s other superstars. Niang praised Mitchel for prioritizing sacrifice for the sake of winning and feels it should be rewarded, pointing to his .457/.413/.815 shooting splits.
Last season, a lot of external focus was placed on Mitchell’s future with the Cavaliers since he had the option of reaching free agency. However, internally, Niang knew Mitchell was making Cleveland his long-term home long before he signed a three-year deal worth $150.3 million, revealing he and Max Strus were recruited as free agents by Mitchell in 2023.
"Fans can breathe easier knowing he's here long term. Donovan is making this his home,” Niang recalled. “He even called Max and me during free agency to bring us here. When your star player wants to be here and recruit others, it creates something special."
Cleveland’s balance of sacrifice, defensive commitment, and offensive precision has positioned them as a formidable contender. With buy-in from stars and role players alike, the Cavaliers are proving that winning collectively creates the strongest path to sustained success.
Grant Afseth
