When EuroBasket 2025 tipped off in Limassol, most eyes gravitated toward Giannis Antetokounmpo and Greece.
Italy / Schedule
But Italy has quietly introduced a new name into Europe's spotlight: Saliou Niang, the 21-year-old forward from Virtus Bologna, drafted this summer by the Cleveland Cavaliers with the 58th pick.
Niang, born in Dakar but raised in Mandello del Lario, Italy, has been one of the tournament's most refreshing revelations.
His energy, athleticism, and relentless hustle have lifted Gianmarco Pozzecco's squad, turning him from a promising youngster into a true X-factor.
Credit FIBA
Cleveland comes to Cyprus
Cleveland hasn't missed a beat in keeping tabs on him.
Cavs GM Mike Gansey and international scout Primoz Brezec were spotted in Limassol, tracking every step of Niang's development.
Gansey even met with Niang's family and representatives on the sidelines—a clear signal of long-term investment.
"He's played really well at the start of EuroBasket and has shown great improvement over the last two years. We're happy with his progress, and we're here to support him as an organization."
Gansey confirmed Niang will stay in Europe for at least one more season:
"Niang will be with Virtus Bologna this year. We'll go season by season, monitoring his progress with our scouts, Koby Altman, myself, and others in the front office. We'll be here during the season, and we hope he continues to improve."
For Gansey, Europe remains a vital market:
"European basketball is great. Kids are trained from a very young age, they learn fundamentals, and you can see many of them come to the U.S. and build a career."
A spark vs. Georgia, a statement vs. Spain
Niang's on-court impact has been impossible to ignore.
Against Georgia, he dropped 15 points and walked away with the game MVP award from FIBA.
Against Spain, in just 15 minutes, he delivered 10 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 blocks—before an ankle sprain cut his night short.
Pozzecco recalled one sequence to highlight why Niang feels special:
"He had the ball under the basket, not in balance, missed the layup, three or four guys around him. He was not in the best situation to get the rebound. But he got the offensive rebound and scored. Why? Because he's got something different. Something huge."
The Italian coach, though, admitted his concern went beyond tactics.
"I hope he feels healthy—not because I need him, of course I need him—but for him, for his career. I suffered when he came out. I know what it feels like when you play with all your heart, and then an injury makes you stop. That's the worst thing."
Credit FIBA Media
Niang himself described his summer grind with humility after the win over Georgia:
"I worked a lot this summer, I was in the NBA Summer League, and it helped me a lot with my game," he told Tsaltas.
"I keep working every day to get better. Against Georgia, our energy was very good, and staying united in tough moments was the key to winning."
Teammates see a bright future
Niang's Italian teammates have also taken note.
Gabriele Procida, following the win against Spain, told BasketNews:
"Saliou is a great player, he's grown so much this past season. He learns and improves every day, and he has the courage to play without fear. His athleticism impresses me the most, but also how ready he is at 2004-born to step in right away.
I think he'll do well in the EuroLeague, and if he works daily on the small things—defense, training—he'll eventually reach the NBA."
"He has an incredible ease, brings us so much energy and intensity. At the beginning, not just with baskets but also rebounds, he's always there to make a play. I hope the ankle is only a small setback because we have a lot of dreams with him on our roster," he admitted.
"The future? Sky's the limit," the Italian forward continued.
"He has to keep working hard, but he has the right mindset. What strikes me most is how much he's improved in the last years. If he gets stronger physically, he'll be even more dominant."
Credit FIBA
And then there's Danilo Gallinari, the national team's elder statesman, who sees both shades of his younger self and something altogether new in Niang.
"He reminds me of when I was young, the way he plays with no fear and goes after every rebound," he told Tsaltas.
"But he's also different—more athletic, more explosive. That's why I think he can have a special career. What I like is that he listens, he wants to learn. With that mentality, the sky is the limit."
From Mandello del Lario to the world stage
Niang's path has been anything but smooth. He suffered multiple ankle ligament injuries as a teenager, fractured his foot, and struggled to break through until making his Serie A debut in 2022 with Fortitudo Bologna.
A stint with Trento proved pivotal: he won the Italian Cup in 2025 and earned tournament MVP honors.
At 199 cm (6'6⅜") and 86 kg (189.5 lbs), Niang blends quickness, leaping ability, and an appetite for doing the dirty work.
His game thrives on energy—rebounding in traffic, chasing blocks, running the floor—and it's this engine that has Italy dreaming and Cleveland intrigued.
Niang's sprained ankle will keep him sidelined against Cyprus, as Italy has already qualified for the Round of 16. Daily evaluations will determine his availability for the knockout stage in Milan.
For Pozzecco, his importance goes beyond a few points or rebounds:
"I spoke with the Cavs GM and Brezec—they asked me about him," the Italian tactician revealed.
"There's something big. What is it? I don't know, but there's something different about him."
Italy hopes to see that "something different" again very soon. For now, Niang's story reads like a modern basketball fairy tale: a boy from Dakar who grew up in Lake Como, battled through injuries, and now has an NBA franchise waiting patiently for his next step.
Giorgos Kyriakidis
Born and raised in Athens, Giorgos Kyriakidis turned his passion for writing and basketball into a career. With a BA in Communication & Media Studies and an MA in Sport, Culture & Society, he’s spent nearly two decades reporting, commentating, and interviewing for outlets like Athens Municipal Radio and TalkBasket. Since 2021, he’s been a staff writer for BasketNews.
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