Knicks: Kurt Rambis Calls Kristaps Porzingis Dirk with Defense
New York Knicks interim head coach Kurt Rambis likened Kristaps Porzingis’ upside to Dirk Nowitzki—with defense.
Every single European NBA Draft prospect who can shoot will be compared to Dallas Mavericks power forward Dirk Nowitzki. Whether appropriate or entirely off the mark, that’s a face value assumption that will be made until another player comes along to sway the opinions of the masses.
While no one knows how good he will be, the general consensus is that Phil Jackson‘s future face of the franchise, Kristaps Porzingis, has the foundation to redefine the expectations of a European big.
He’s well on his way to doing so already.
Porzingis has already made NBA history as the tallest player to eclipse 50 3-point field goals made. He’s also the first and only rookie to ever record at least 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, 100 blocks, and 75 3-point field goals.
According to Marc Berman of The New York Post, interim head coach Kurt Rambis believes that Porzingis’ unique ability to get the job done on both ends puts him in a different conversation from Nowitzki.
"“You look at Dirk’s ability to play at different spots on the floor and shoot 3s — I get the comparison,’’ Rambis said after practice at American Airlines Center. “But eventually I see Kristaps being able to have an impact on both ends of the floor. That’s going to make him unique. He’s going to able to be one of those guys you can go to offensively and also be one of the guys you count on to defend the basket, block shots, rebound. Kristaps, at some point in time, is going to be a really unique player.”"
It’s hard to debate the latter part of Rambis’ statement.
As a rookie, Porzingis is already No. 7 in the NBA in blocks per game and No. 6 in blocks per 48 minutes. According to NBA.com, he’s holding opponents to 47.7 percent shooting at the rim, which is one of the Top 20 marks in the NBA.
For evidence of how positively influential Porzingis already is on defense, New York is No. 1 in the NBA in defensive field goal percentage at the rim.
Porzingis may never be as dominant as Nowitzki on offense, but he certainly has the foundation for similar success. The 20-year-old is taller than the 7’0″ Nowitzki at 7’3″, and has a ridiculous 7’7″ wingspan that enables him to block shots without leaving his feet.
Carmelo Anthony understands the Nowitzki comparisons, but needs a bigger sample size before he’s ready to make them himself.
"“Some similarities there, as far as 7-footer who can shoot the basketball and make plays,” Anthony said. “KP is special specimen out there — a guy who can move the way he can move, very coordinated, can shoot the basketball. The only thing he has is a lot of upside, but I don’t want to make the comparison between him and Dirk because Dirk’s been doing it so long.”"
That’s a very fair point.
Nowitzki is in his 18th NBA season, and has as incredible a resume as one could ask for. He’s won NBA MVP, Finals MVP, and an NBA championship, and has 12 All-NBA appearances, including four to the First Team.
Nowitzki is a first ballot Hall of Famer, and while Porzingis is quite promising, he’s nowhere near achieving what the 37-year-old has.
Strictly talking upside, however, Porzingis’ ability to get the job done on both ends of the floor is remarkable. Nowitzki himself told reporters that Porzingis is, “For real,” and, “Ahead of the curve,” and it’s not very hard to see why he made such an evaluation.
As Rambis told Berman, Porzingis is an anomaly.
"“I see Kris’ ability to grab rebounds, push it up the floor as a decision-maker,’’ Rambis said. “[Dirk has] always been a good, willing passer. Kristaps will be able to do that, too. Kristaps’ mobility is going to be a huge part of what separates him from a lot of different players at his size.”"
Not many players have ever been as big as Porzingis, let alone as athletic, competitive, or creative.
Amongst Knicks rookies, Porzingis’ scoring average of 14.3 points per game is tied with Carl Braun for No. 7 all-time. Porzingis’ average of 1.9 blocks per game is No. 2 all-time amongst New York’s long list of first-year players.
The only player to average more blocks than Porzingis as a rookie: Patrick Ewing.
If Porzingis manages to blend the strengths of Ewing and Nowitzki, he’d be one of the greatest players of all-time. That conversation shouldn’t even be surfacing, but Knicks fans have every right to be optimistic about the future of the organization with the Latvian prodigy in tow.
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2015-16 has been a rough season, but if Porzingis can be half the player Nowitzki is and was, New York will be a contender for years to come.