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Happy Birthday, Kristaps Porzingis: Top 5 Gifts To The Knicks Thus Far

By Maxwell Ogden

Feb 20, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; New York Knicks forward Kristaps Porzingis (6) against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center. The Knicks defeated the Timberwolves 103-95. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 20, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; New York Knicks forward Kristaps Porzingis (6) against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center. The Knicks defeated the Timberwolves 103-95. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 2, 2015; New York, NY, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan (21) drives against New York Knicks forward Kristaps Porzingis (6) during the first quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 2, 2015; New York, NY, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan (21) drives against New York Knicks forward Kristaps Porzingis (6) during the first quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports /

4. The Putbacks

It may sound silly, but New York Knicks fans knew Kristaps Porzingis was special from the very first time he threw down a putback dunk. It wasn’t just the fact that a 7’3″ player was coordinated enough to pull something like that off.

It was the fact that a rookie was so fearless that he posterized an All-Star at his position—and then another All-Star just one game later.

Porzingis got started on Monday, November 2 when he posterized an unsuspecting LaMarcus Aldridge. Aldridge, of course, is a five-time All-Star and four-time All-NBA honoree who, at 31, is approaching Hall of Fame territory.

Just two days later, Porzingis posterized Kevin Love—an NBA champion, two-time All-NBA honoree, and three-time All-Star.

There were other putback dunks, including the monster flush against the Milwaukee Bucks. What made the first two so special, however, was both the level of competition and the fearlessness of an overlooked rookie.

Following those two dunks, few critics remained of Phil Jackson‘s selection of Porzingis.

Next: The Duel

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