New York Knicks News: Kristaps Porzingis Talks About Summer League, Rookie Experience
It is no secret that the NBA is morphing into a small man's league, a reverse of what it used to be.
Kristaps Porzingis, a 7-foot-2 beanpole from Latvia, was drafted fourth overall by the New York Knicks last month. Politely, the Knicks are in a state of flux. Fans were hoping for the management to select a flashy back court player that would immediately impact the roster. Instead, they got a relatively unknown center.
The Last Vegas Summer League had just concluded. Newcomers and players with unguaranteed contracts competed for the tournament's title and for individual attention.
Although it was not a coming-out party for Porzingis, he did somewhat vindicate his case as worthy of the Knicks' top four pick. For twenty minutes in four Summer League games, Porzingis tallied 10.5 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 1.8 blocks, DailyKnicks reported.
Scouts consider him a prospect who in five years time, may turn out to be the steal of the 2015 NBA Draft, or he may not. Phil Jackson took a gamble on Porzingis's potential.
Jackson, who has an iron hand for "deliquent" players, won't have a hard time with his foreign rookie. Aside from having the skills to fit the Triangle Offense, Porzingis has shown that he is a well spoken kid.
While taking part of Summer League activities, Porzingis spoke with BleacherReport about his rookie experience.
The 19-year-old Latvian said the boos on Draft Night were expected regardless who the Knicks selected. He was quick to articulate that fans at MSG knew their basketball pretty well and if he played hard and showed his commitment, Knicks fans would accept him.
Talking about Carmelo Anthony, Porzingis said it was the Knicks superstar who texted him first.
"Carmelo Anthony reached out to me after I got drafted. He said, 'Congrats, welcome to the team.' I didn't have his number, so I texted back, 'Who's this?' And then a few minutes later, he said, 'This is Melo' with his No. 7 as the 'l'. I met him actually when I came for my Knicks' tryout for the first time. We've talked a couple of times since then."
Speaking on the attention he has been receiving, Porzingis noted that he is used to it since he is 7-foot tall. He also said 99 percent of the people he met during the Las Vegas Summer League had well wishes for him.
He was also asked on who he patterns his game after. He had high regards for Kevin Garnett. He also mentioned that he watches Anthony Davis and Dirk Nowitzki "a lot." Dirk's one-legged fade-away shot is something he is working on.
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