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New York Post Q & A: Getting to Know Kristaps Porzingis on the Court

By William Lee

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Steve Serby of the New York Post had a wonderfully insightful Q & A [click here for full Q & A interveiew] with Kristaps Porzingis. Below were all the basketball related questions from the interview and just the way he answered some of the question should put some Knick fans to ease. Porzingis is at least saying all the right things, let’s give him a chance to prove himself.

Q: Tell Knicks fans why you won’t be a bust.
A: I think what sets me apart from those busts is that I love the game so much. However my career’s gonna start — I’m gonna be playing, not playing — I’m gonna have my mentality, just my work ethic, keeping that same discipline every day, just working until my moment comes. … I’m a student of the game. I will try to make my career as long as possible, for me it’s not about money, so, I just love playing the game.

Q: What would you say to Knicks fans who are worried that Phil Jackson made a mistake by drafting you?
A: To be patient. But me, I will do everything’s that’s in my hands to be the best player I can be, and I will do whatever’s in my hands to see that people were wrong and that Phil was right.

Q: Would you tell them not to worry?
A: Don’t worry about me, my moment will come. I’ll be ready for it, I will work hard, and whenever it’s gonna come, whenever the coaches are gonna trust me, I’m gonna be on court and give 100 percent.

Q: Do you have the confidence in yourself that you can become a star?
A: First, I have the confidence, but I have the talent, too. I believe that I can be a star one day.

Q: What makes you unique on the basketball court?
A: I think it’s just a combination of my length, and size, mobility and my outside shot.

Q: Describe your mentality on the court.
A: How I prepare myself for the games is I want to be aggressive, I want to attack, I want to get fouled. That’s the thing I always go through before a game. But then I think about: If it doesn’t go my way, what are the things that I can do to help a team, get rebounds, get blocks, stuff that just working on the court you can get even if you’re not making shots.

Q: Do you ever get angry on the court?
A: I do.

Q: Does that help you play?
A: Sometimes it does. Sometimes it doesn’t. It gives me some aggressiveness. If I catch myself being too angry and not making the right decision, then I try to calm myself down.

Q: What makes you angry on the court?
A: Just whatever I do, or maybe my teammate does something. … Usually I don’t blame it on my teammate, I’m more mad at myself — turnover, missed shot, stuff like that.

Q: What parts of the games of Pau Gasol and Dirk Nowitzki do you think you might want to take?
A: I would love to have the IQ of Pau’s game, how smart he is playing. Then Dirk, his offensive skills, his shot, you know, fadeaway, that’s something [that is] unguardable.

Q: How can you make life easier for Carmelo Anthony?
A: I’m a big who can stretch the floor. Carmelo, you know, he’s gonna try to attack. He will have some spacing with me open. I will go for every rebound whenever Carmelo shoots.

Q: What is your definition of greatness?
A: Being a professional for a long time on and off the court. Not just being a professional, but you gotta be a great player on the court, and then just doing all the right things off the court. Just interacting with your fans, just having a fan base. … How you carry yourself off the court, that’s very important. And then the dedication on the court … those hours when nobody’s watching you when you’re working by yourself in the gym — that’s what separates good from great.

Here’s to hoping Porzingis is great!

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