Wake up New York City, Knicks got it right with Kristaps Porzingis
“4th pick is the charm” believe it or not , it is time to stop sleeping on the potential of Knicks rookie Kristaps Porzingis. Tha player drafted at No 4 in this year’s draft was the most undervalued pick and Knicks organization attracted severe criticism for drafting him. The pick was considered outrageous to an extent that made Stephen A Smith to come out of vacation to talk about it on National TV. He did not just talk he went on rant. Watch it here.
But the player and the organization weathered the storm tactfully, it was amazing to see how Kristaps embraced the criticism and just played basketball. After drafting Porzingis, Phil Jackson said that they believed Porzingis has the best chance to grow and develop into a star. For now he is not anywhere close to being a star but he is not the bust that the critics thought he was. Porzingis plays the game with edge, he does not take a back seat when he is on the court.
This is obvious by his trending signature putback dunks but it should be noted that he does hesitate to shoot the 3 point shot as well. He demonstrates a high basketball IQ and plays with a flare while he is on the court for Knicks.
There are very talented No 4 picks that have gone to be superstars and champions in this league. The few No 4 picks that we know are Russell Westbrook, Mike Conley, Chris Paul, Chris Bosh, Lamar Odom, etc.. in the last 15 years. History may repeat itself, for 10 years ago Chris Paul was drafted No 4 and won the rookie of the year award. Maybe , Porzingis will not be the rookie of the year and not an all-star in his rookie season but Porzingis will be the center piece of future.
He also fills in at the vacant Center spot in Knicks roster; when Knicks invested in Bargnani they expected him to play a similar role and take the team to the next level. Except this time, they have a player who is more agile and looks promising than their earlier failed experiments.
In the first 9 games, Prozingis is averaging 12 points and 9 rebounds with almost 2 blocks per game in the recent 5 games. His 39 % FG will improve as the season goes on and when he understands the NBA game better. For critics comparing the stats of Porzingis to Okafor or Karl-Anthony Towns, the answer is, “Porzingis has a completely different skill set and he is not primary scorer for his team like the other two in conversation”.
Porzingis puts the ball in the floor and faces the basket most of his positions; this is the reason for his poor FG %. He should develop his post skills and big man game so his size could be a factor and the performances are consistent on a nightly basis. With Zen Master in the groove, the development of his skills and learning the game would be immense and great to watch.
The New York City and the Knicks fans are the lovers of the flashy and high reel performances. And if you earn the respect of the fans in the Garden, you will be remembered and will get your due. This is exactly what Prozingis is doing, he is playing solid defense and making big plays after big plays. After setting a trend of putback dunks, he hit a game winner in Charlotte that was ruled out.
The Knicks were down 93-95 and the 3 point shot would have won the game for the Knicks. Porzingis is the modern crop of big men who possess unbelievable shooting range and touch. Also, he is an European tall guy meaning that he will be able to shoot anywhere from the floor and dribble the ball to get to his spot. Unlike NBA, Euro basketball is more of pass the ball around and help your teammates get a better shot kind of offense. This should translate well in the NBA for the big guy from Latvia.
So what’s next for Prozingis? he should improve his shooting efficiency by getting better shots, stay healthy through the long season and become a consistent 15 and 10 guy in the first season of the career. Once he understands how to play within the system and get the look he would like then he would have truly transformed into a NBA player. Also, he should continue to pounce on the scoring opportunities that comes his way. All in all, Knicks have made a good choice by selecting Prozingis at No 4 and investing in him. So far he has been able to keep up with the expectation and he should continue to improve.
When everything is said and done, playing for Knicks is not an easy thing to go. The culture of New York City renders the passion and intensity when Knicks take the court at Madison Square Garden. Every play and player is under a microscope, everything would be analyzed, criticized and the same time talent and performance would reap higher yields too. As they say it is a two way sword and it can break or make a player’s career. But for now the Knicks fan can be in peace, because after all Kristaps Porzingis is thriving and growing as a player every game.