New York Knicks: Jeff Hornacek Discusses Kristaps Porzingis’ Leadership
Kristaps Porzingis is looking to step up as more of a leader during the 2017-18 NBA regular season. New York Knicks head coach Jeff Hornacek is intrigued.
The 2016-17 NBA regular season has been one of the most disappointing campaigns in New York Knicks history. Not only has New York struggled to live up to the hype, but its players, coaches, and executives have all seemed to feud at some point in time.
In the midst of another underwhelming season, one of the few reasons for optimism is second-year power forward Kristaps Porzingis.
Porzingis represents a brighter future for an organization that hasn’t drafted a franchise player since 1985. There’s no guaranteeing that Porzingis will live up to the Patrick Ewing hype, but he’s lended credence to the belief that he’s the next face of the organization.
In response to Porzingis stating that he’s hoping to take on more of a leadership role in 2016-17, head coach Jeff Hornacek weighed in on the latest development of The Unicorn’s game.
Per Marc Berman of The New York Post:
"“Maybe [more] on the more vocal side,’’ Hornacek said. “He does a great job leading this team with the way he plays effort-wise. He practices hard every practice, does it in the game. I think that’s a start for leadership. He’s a young guy with some veterans on this team. Sometimes you got to defer to letting them to do the talking. Pushing his teammates more is probably his next step. He understands that.”"
Hornacek, like many others, seems to be in awe of Porzingis and the ceiling he has as a player and leader.
On the court, Porzingis is averaging 18.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 2.0 blocks, and 1.8 3-point field goals made in 32.8 minutes per game. He’s doing so on a slash line of .444/.363/.785 and is committing just 1.7 turnovers per game.
Perhaps most impressively, in just his second year, Porzingis has become the first player in Knicks history to record at least 100 blocks and 100 3-point field goals made in the same season.
The question is: can Porzingis take the most vital of steps and emerge as a leader in the locker room during the 2017-18 season?
Just listening to Porzingis talk will leave you feeling inspired. From quotes of, “A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor,” to his brutal honesty about the flaws of the team and players, he’s proven to be an introspective and thoughtful individual.
Though some believed that Porzingis was drafted to play the Pau Gasol role, the signs points towards KP becoming Phil Jackson’s No. 1 star in the near future.
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The upside comparisons are all in good fun, but with his talent now valued, the question beckons: can Kristaps Porzingis be the leader whom the New York Knicks desperately need?