Utah Jazz forwards Joe Ingles (2) and Georges Niang (31) talk as the Jazz finish shootaround at the Toyota Center on Wednesday, April 17, 2019, in preparation for game 2 of their playoff series with the Rockets in Houston, Texas.
SALT LAKE CITY — While the Jazz are figuring out how to develop some positive momentum and win more basketball games after a very tough road trip and embarrassing loss in their first game back at home earlier this month, some members of the team are doing their part to remind their brethren that they are still playing a kid’s game they love and should do their best to enjoy the experience as much as they can.
Most teams in sports and almost any level have a few players that help keep morale going in a positive direction even when the organization is going through tough times. For the Utah Jazz those guys are forwards Joe Ingles and Georges Niang. Both are easy going and are known to have the ability to create levity when situations call for it.
After a recent Jazz shootaround, Ingles talked about their roles in making sure the guys on the team remember to have fun, as well as about the relationship he has developed with his young protégé and the strides his teammate has made this season.
“Me and Georges sit next to each other on the plane and that’s probably a little bit of why. We have very similar personalities. I think he’s the same (as me), once he walks out of here or before he gets in here, he’s very carefree,” Ingles explained. “He knows what matters and what’s important and when I when he’s here, he works his ass off.”
Ingles added that the effort Niang has made in practice has been rewarded with a spot in the team’s regular game rotation.
“It’s showed in the minutes he’s played. There’s been games that he hasn’t played at all for a stretch and then he gets in for three minutes and does what he what he needs to do,” Ingles added. “It’s a good balance between me and him, we can keep everyone minds fresh when we need to.”
“When we need to ‘lock in,’ everyone knows when that time is and within the group is a good balance,” he said.
Niang said he and Ingles have learned to appreciate the good fortune they have as professional athletes, which is something they definitely don’t take for granted.
“We’re two like lighthearted guys, we like to have a lot of fun,” he said.
“Life is good for both of us. Well, at least for me, I’m an unathletic. Whoever thought I’d be here?” Niang said with a laugh. ”So, I love coming to work every day doing what I love. I have a blast.”
“Sometimes we get too honed-in on the negative things when this is a blessing that we have,” he said. “This is a game we still do love and fell in love with and played for no money or any accolades, so just get out there and do that now.”
Niang also mentioned Emmanuel Mudiay and Ed Davis as others on the team with a good sense of humor that typically hide it from the public, deferring instead to share those times with the team, close friends and family.
“I think there’s guys that like aren’t willing to show you guys their personal side, but there’s a lot of funny characters on this team,” he said.
Niang deftly declined to share any private stories with local media who inquired, however.
“No, no — keep those in the locker room, that’s locker room talk,” he said.
from Deseret News https://ift.tt/2LA4KLc
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