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New York Knicks: Can Kristaps Porzingis Be An All-Star In 2016-17?

By Maxwell Ogden

Feb 12, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; World player Kristaps Porzingis (6) shakes hands with World head coach Ettore Messina (L) prior to the Rising Stars Challenge basketball game against the U.S. at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 12, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; World player Kristaps Porzingis (6) shakes hands with World head coach Ettore Messina (L) prior to the Rising Stars Challenge basketball game against the U.S. at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Can New York Knicks phenom Kristaps Porzingis be an All-Star in 2016-17? Here are five reasons to believe the second-year player can make the jump.

Feb 12, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; New York Knicks power forward Kristaps Porzingis (6) shakes hands with World head coach Ettore Messina (L) prior to the Rising Stars Challenge basketball game against the U.S. at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 12, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; New York Knicks power forward Kristaps Porzingis (6) shakes hands with World head coach Ettore Messina (L) prior to the Rising Stars Challenge basketball game against the U.S. at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /

The New York Knicks are building the future of the organization around power forward Kristaps Porzingis. Though the Knicks appeared to be doomed for failure prior to the 2015-16 NBA regular season, the critics have since turned to fans.

Now entering his second NBA season, Porzingis has a chance to shake the, “Young and promising,” label and evolve into one of the best the NBA has to offer.

Porzingis, 21, will be surrounded by one of the most promising rosters in Knicks history. Carmelo Anthony, Courtney Lee, Joakim Noah, and Derrick Rose will join him as starters, and Brandon Jennings has arrived to lead the second unit.

According to Al Iannazzone of Newsday, one of Jennings’ goals in 2016-17 is to help Porzingis become an All-Star in 2016-17.

"“No. We definitely have a feel already. Our feel is good, our chemistry is good. I just want to get him easy shots and help him be an All-Star.”"

The question is: can Porzingis actually make the 2017 NBA All-Star Game?

Porzingis was unanimously selected to the 2015-16 All-Rookie First Team. He did so by averaging 14.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.9 blocks, and 1.1 3-point field goals made in 28.4 minutes per game.

Solid as those numbers are, Porzingis will likely need to provide something more to be an All-Star in 2017.

Here are five reasons to believe he will.

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