This past week, JJ Redick had Georges Niang on his podcast, “The Old Man and the 3.” You may recall JJ was a Sixer not too long ago. So naturally, the subject of how intense Philly fans can be came up.

Georges Niang on Sixers Fans:

NIANG: When you hear the stories… I was a little anxious to start the season because there was a preseason game where I literally had a wide-open three, but it slipped in my hand and I pump-faked it and I turned the ball over. I was running down the court and some guy is standing up in an A.I. jersey and was like, ‘Yo, shoot the f***ing ball. We didn’t bring you here to pass the f***ing ball.’ I was like, ‘What?’ Because I came from Utah where I know people have talked about fan experiences in Utah, but it would be like, ‘Aw, it’s alright, next time down!’ Here it’s like, ‘Nah, be better.’ I was like, ‘Dang!’ But it’s been great. I was lucky I got off to a hot start, so I didn’t have to deal with any ball-busting fans, ‘You suck, why’d we bring you here?’, so I’m extremely thankful for that.

REDICK: Just wait ’til you hit that two-week stretch where you go 5-for-30.

NIANG: [laughs]

REDICK: Just you wait, buddy.

First, kudos to JJ for warning Georges Niang that it won’t be all “Niang Gang” and “Minivan” jokes. There will be a time where we seriously consider strapping him to an Amtrak train and shipping him out of town.

It’s really only a matter of time. Philly fans demand excellence. Unlike Utah fans, who are just grateful there is a professional team in their arid desert town.

Think about how absolutely soft those Utah fans must have been that he remembers right down to the clothing, the first Philly fan encounter he had here. It’s truly remarkable. Remarkably fishy…

*Googles Utah Jazz Fans*

Oh no.

So I think maybe the thing Georges was shocked by was that Philly fans are focused on basketball. Utah fans seem more concerned with other things…

• Like mocking a child with cancer.
• Or being straight up racist.

Look, I’m not going to stand on a pedestal here and say Philly fans are perfect. I am going to say we are perfect compared to Utah Jazz fans. Honestly I’m kind of grossed out that Georges was nervous playing in front of us after dealing with those lunatics for four years.

Sixers fans can get intense. Sometimes we lightly toss a small popcorn at Russell Westbrook. Sometimes we can get a little carried away because we are hungry for some delicious Wendy’s. But compared to Utah, we’re a walk in the park.

This whole “aren’t Jazz fans sweet” narrative from Niang is baffling to me and I just spent like 25 seconds googling them. They even have a whole fan group dedicated to try to curb racism. In 2021. Not 1961.

So yeah, Georges, we want you to hit your shots. Considering the number of terrifying things I just learned about Utah Jazz fans this afternoon, that should be a relief.