Following a storied career at Iowa State, Niang was nabbed by the Pacers in the second round of the 2016 NBA Draft. While not an athletic specimen, the 6-foot-9 Niang impressed the Pacers in summer league contests and training camp with his playmaking skills, but he generally struggled to translate that ability into meaningful production as a rookie. Niang went on to appear in just 23 contests at the NBA level, averaging just 4.0 minutes per game while shuttling frequently between the Pacers and the G League's Fort Wayne Mad Ants. With Niang failing to make the strides the Pacers had hoped for in his development as a power forward, he was waived in July to free up roster space. Golden State inked Niang to a one-year, partially guaranteed deal in August, but the 24-year-old again appears destined for extensive time in the G League in his second professional season, this time with the Santa Cruz Warriors.