Georges Niang's NBA career likely will come down to which of his characteristics wins the standoff: his exceptional basketball IQ or his unexceptional athleticism.
This much is certain: Niang is smart enough to know how to give himself the best chance of becoming that rare late second-round draft pick who has a lasting career.
"I'm here to make plays for others," Niang said Tuesday while meeting with Indianapolis media members.
The Pacers made Niang the 50th player chosen in last week's NBA draft. That automatically stacks the odds against him, given the history of second-round NBA picks, particularly those selected later in the round.