NBA Legends Who Have Praised Knicks’ Kristaps Porzingis
Dirk Nowitzki
Entering the 2016 NBA Draft, Kristaps Porzingis received upside comparisons to a number of different players. Most were Europeans, like himself, but that shortsighted approach wasn’t entirely inaccurate or unfair.
Some of the players Porzingis most closely compares to are European legends, including former NBA and Finals MVP Dirk Nowitzki.
Nowitzki’s 7’0″ height and vast range made him an easy target for upside comparisons. The German-born power forward has cultivated a Hall of Fame career, which makes the likening a great honor for Porzingis.
Per Ian Begley and Tim MacMahon of ESPN, Nowitzki acknowledged how every tall European shooter will be compared to him, but praised Porzingis just as impressed with Porzingis as a legitimate force
"“Every tall European now who comes over and can shoot is going to be compared to me, but he looks like he’s for real,” Nowitzki said. “I mean, he’s just 20 years old. He’s got a lot of ways to go, but the upside this kid has is just tremendous.”"
That was foreshadowing at its finest.
A day later, when Nowitzki’s Dallas Mavericks traveled to face the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden, Porzingis dropped 28 points. The German legend wasn’t too bad himself, scoring 25 to make for what may have been the most memorable clash of the Latvian rookie’s young career.
According to Ian Begley of ESPN New York, Nowitzki had a message for Porzingis’ critics after the two went to war: “He’s for real.”
"“It’s more than fair,” Nowitzki said after his first game against Porzingis. “He’s probably way ahead of the curve. When I was 20, I was scared to death out there. … He’s almost averaging a double-double, so he’s way better than I was at 20. So the comparison’s probably unfair to me.” “He’s for real,” Nowitzki said after scoring a team-high 25 points for the Mavericks (13-9). “We’ve said it before. He’s tougher than you think. He’s long. He’s athletic. He can put the ball on the floor. … The sky’s the limit for this kid, not only because he’s good but also because I heard he lives and breathes basketball. He stays in the gym, he works hard and doesn’t let all this hype here get to his head. You’ve to root for him.”"
Nowitzki’s praise is as meaningful as anyone else’s on this list.
Nowitzki knows what it’s like to be a European player coming over to the unforgiving NBA. He helped blaze the trail that Porzingis is now traveling upon, and he, much like Porzingis has and will, has experienced the highs and lows of life in the Association.
The fact that Nowitzki, the player to whom Porzingis is most often compared, is high on his upside is a very promising sign.
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