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New York Knicks: Kristaps Porzingis, Karl-Anthony Towns Changing NBA

By Maxwell Ogden

Feb 20, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; New York Knicks forward Kristaps Porzingis (6) greets Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) 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) greets Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) at Target Center. The Knicks defeated the Timberwolves 103-95. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 27, 2015; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs power forward Tim Duncan (L) and Dallas Mavericks power forward Dirk Nowitzki (R) battle for rebounding position during the first half at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 27, 2015; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs power forward Tim Duncan (L) and Dallas Mavericks power forward Dirk Nowitzki (R) battle for rebounding position during the first half at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports /

Change of the Guard

If Karl-Anthony Towns is the modern Tim Duncan and Kristaps Porzingis is the modern Dirk Nowitzki, then the NBA is going to flourish. Duncan and Nowitzki have six NBA championships, three MVPs, four Finals MVPs, and 27 All-NBA selections between them.

Far more important than any player comparisons, however, is the change that Porzingis and Towns represent for the NBA as a whole.

The previous generation of big men helped pave the way for the likes of Porzingis, Towns, Anthony Davis, Andre Drummond, Joel Embiid, and so forth. The legends of yesteryear modernized their positions in their own ways, but the evolution hasn’t yet been completed.

The NBA has been waiting years for players to come along and make this happen, and they’ve finally arrived; there’s finally been a change of the guard.

There’s no guaranteeing that Porzingis or Towns—or any of the other listed young big men—will achieve their full potential. There have been flashes of all-time greatness, however, and both players are capable of making it last.

Thankfully for fans of the New York Knicks, Minnesota Timberwolves, and the NBA in general, Porzingis and Towns are on the same timeline.

Must Read: Grading the Knicks' offseason acquisitions after November

A lot could change between now and the realization of one’s Hall of Fame potential, but Kristaps Porzingis and Karl-Anthony Towns are currently changing the NBA.

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