Saliou Niang
Saliou Niang is a Senegalese–Italian professional basketball player for Virtus Bologna of the Italian Lega Basket Serie A and the EuroLeague. He was selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers with the 58th pick in the second round of the 2025 NBA draft.Early life
In 2004, Niang was born in Dakar, Senegal. He moved to Italy at the age of two and spent his childhood in Mandello del Lario, in the province of Lecco. He grew up with his junior team, Fortitudo Bologna, before making his debut for them in 2022.Professional career
Fortitudo Bologna
On 5 May 2022, Saliou Niang made his debut for Fortitudo Bologna, playing one minute off the bench in a six-point victory, where he committed one turnover and failed to record any other stats. In 2023, he signed with Aquila Basket Trento.Aquila Basket Trento
After receiving minimal playing time with Fortitudo Bologna, Niang signed with Aquila Basket Trento. He debuted on 29 November 2023 in the Eurocup. In his 2nd outing with the team, he shot 80% from the field, finishing the game with ten points, seven rebounds, and two assists, all of which were career highs. Later in the Lega Serie-A season, he scored a season-high 16 points, all from 2-pointers.Virtus Bologna
On 26 June 2025, Niang was drafted as the 28th pick of the second round by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2025 NBA draft. His selection came as a surprise to many. Niang signed with Virtus Bologna, the Italian powerhouse and reigning champions of the Lega Basket Serie A. On 30 September, he made his EuroLeague debut with Virtus, scoring 12 points against Real Madrid.