Kristaps Porzingis is learning moves players his size shouldn't be able to do, and the NBA should be scared
David Zalubowski/AP
The New York Knicks began to struggle, and the 7-foot-3 Latvian big man clearly looked like the second best rookie big man in the NBA, behind eventual rookie of the year winner Karl-Anthony Towns.
Since the end of the Knicks' season in April, it looks like Porzingis has been hellbent on improving his game, adding even more offensive versatility to his already diverse repertoire.
Recently, courtesy of ESPN's Ian Begley, we've gotten a look at Porzingis' offseason work, and the NBA should be scared. Porzingis is already the perfect mold for the future center of the NBA: long, athletic, with the ability to guard the rim and shoot three-pointers. But 7-foot-3 players are not supposed to have this type of handle and jump shot off the dribble. Heck, there are players half-a-foot shorter than Porzingis who can't move like this.
Kristaps Porzingis works with Knicks assistant Josh Longstaff on a cross over/step-back sequence to create space: pic.twitter.com/22zJ6pkxfY
- Ian Begley (@IanBegley) June 15, 2016
Kristaps Porzingis with Knicks assistant Josh Longstaff incorporating a crossover dribble into a pull-up jump shot. pic.twitter.com/fKtlmJkfd7
- Ian Begley (@IanBegley) June 15, 2016
Kristaps Porzingis brings the ball up and finishes during a scrimmage at his youth camp in Latvia. pic.twitter.com/CDmc3C2G7m
- Ian Begley (@IanBegley) June 14, 2016
Granted, this isn't staunch, NBA-level defense, but it's not Porzingis' ability to make the shot that's impressive, so much as it is his ability to even learn these moves at his size. In short: wow.
If some of these moves look familiar, it may not be a coincidence. Begley notes that Porzingis has been working with Knicks assistant Josh Longstaff. Longstaff was previously an assistant for the Oklahoma City Thunder, meaning he worked with another tall, talented NBA player: Kevin Durant.
It's impossible to project that kind of ceiling onto Porzingis; Durant is one of the top-three best players in the entire NBA.
But if Porzingis can develop even half of Durant's skills as a scorer, combined with his length and defensive instincts, the Knicks may have an entirely different monster on their hands.
- A couple accidentally shipped their cat in an Amazon return package. It arrived safely 6 days later, hundreds of miles away.
- A centenarian who starts her day with gentle exercise and loves walks shares 5 longevity tips, including staying single
- 2 states where home prices are falling because there are too many houses and not enough buyers
- 7 Nutritious and flavourful tiffin ideas to pack for school
- India's e-commerce market set to skyrocket as the country's digital economy surges to USD 1 Trillion by 2030
- Top 5 places to visit near Rishikesh
- Indian economy remains in bright spot: Ministry of Finance
- A surprise visit: Tesla CEO Elon Musk heads to China after deferring India visit
- JNK India IPO allotment date
- JioCinema New Plans
- Realme Narzo 70 Launched
- Apple Let Loose event
- Elon Musk Apology
- RIL cash flows
- Charlie Munger
- Feedbank IPO allotment
- Tata IPO allotment
- Most generous retirement plans
- Broadcom lays off
- Cibil Score vs Cibil Report
- Birla and Bajaj in top Richest
- Nestle Sept 2023 report
- India Equity Market