Can Kristaps Porzingis become the next New York Knicks legend? Our Chris Priczak evaluates.
There have been several greats—Walt Frazier, Earl Monroe, Willis Reed, Dave DeBusschere, Bill Bradley, Patrick Ewing, and Bernard King—who have suited up in the New York Knicks’ orange and blue.
Frazier, Monroe, Reed, DeBusschere, and Bradley were all a part of New York’s last championship run during the 1972-73 season. King was a dominant scorer who scored 50 points on several occasions.
Last but not least, Ewing made the NBA Finals on two separate occasions.
In addition, these Knicks greats, with the exception of King, have their numbers hanging in the rafters at Madison Square Garden. Even though the Knicks haven’t had much success in the past decade, there is a gifted athlete on the roster that has the potential to be the next great Knick.
And his name is not Carmelo Anthony.
First off, this is not an insult to Anthony. He is a tremendous scorer and has showcased that throughout his 13 years in the NBA. In 2013, the Syracuse product led the Knicks to their first playoff series victory since 2000. Even though he has been hampered by injuries since 2011, Anthony has been productive every year.
The unfortunate thing in Anthony’s case is that his prime years are almost over. It’s hard to determine how many quality years Anthony has left since he has dealt with injuries since he came to New York.
On the other hand, Kristaps Porzingis could be taking on a bigger role in the next few seasons, so Anthony isn’t playing close to 35 minutes a night.
Maybe in a few seasons, Kristaps Porzingis will be the No. 1 option on the team. Even though Porzingis doesn’t have the pressure of being the No. 1 option on the team at the moment, it’s time to embrace the Porzingis era in the Big Apple.
Jeff Hornacek has praised Porzingis’ skill set on numerous occasions. The Knicks’ head coach posed an intriguing question: why can’t he be a Top 5 player in this league?
Kristaps Porzingis is one of the greatest things to happen to the Big Apple since Patrick Ewing. Porzingis has a set of skills; skill that will make him a nightmare for opposing teams for years to come. For starters, his height (7’3″) is an advantage.
The concern with the Latvian native was that his body was too frail and it will be hard for him to take on fellow bigs in the league. In the offseason, he has worked on strengthening his lower body, which should help him absorb contact.
Even though he can be dangerous as a potential stretch 5 down the line, he is still a few years away from taking on the load as the team’s center.
The soon-to-be sophomore forward also has the ability to knock down shots from beyond the arc. He showed that during his rookie season, but the more impressive thing is an athlete of his size who could stretch an opposing big out to guard him at the three-point line.
In a game against the Charlotte Hornets, New York was down by two with less than a second left in the game. The 7’3″ forward had the final look in the game—a three-point opportunity—and he drained the shot.
The shot was ultimately called off, but it shows the confidence and quick release he possess.
Not only did Porzingis show his offensive skills during his rookie year, but he could see his offensive game grow in Hornacek’s offense. Offenses led by Hornacek have been known for taking three pointers. Not only are his 75 3-point field goals most for a rookie in NBA history, but it’s a record for a player 7’3″ or taller.
Along with his three-point shooting, he also is a high-quality midrange shooter.
For his size, he is a solid defender. While he’s not fit at the moment to take the bulk of the minutes at center, the Knicks’ forward interior defense has improved since his early days as a professional. Compared to the times where he would get pushed around, Porzingis has shown a capability to be a good shot blocker. There is no denying that he can be a force on both sides of the ball.
The Latvian native has 21 games with three or more blocks, and even swatted away seven shots against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Along with his ability to be a shot-blocker, he has improved on his post defense. The Knicks must have some confidence that their young forward can develop into a center down the line. With his rare skill set, it makes sense why Kevin Durant would call him a “unicorn.”
All of the Knick greats before Porzingis have one thing in common, and that similarity is success. Frazier, Monroe, Reed, DeBusschere, and Bradley were all a part of the Knicks’ last championship team.
While Ewing didn’t bring a championship to the Big Apple, the Knicks made two NBA Finals appearances during his 15 years in New York.
His individual success is one thing, but the overall success of the team is primary. Porzingis will need to carry the Knicks to an unfamiliar territory: deep into the playoffs.
Is that realistic? It all depends on how the team can build around the Latvian native in the years to come. Porzingis will need to continue to grow and develop his game. Of course, health is the most important factor. But health is a hard thing to predict, since the 82-game season can be grueling.
So far, his career is off to a great start. While it’s too early to mention Porzingis in the same sentence as the Knicks’ greats, he does have the potential to have a great career in New York.
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If Kristaps Porzingis is able to carry the Knicks to the promise land, he will be remembered by the fans in New York just like the aforementioned legends.