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New York Knicks: 2016-17 Quarter-Mark Award Winners

By Maxwell Ogden

Nov 16, 2016; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks forward Mindaugas Kuzminskas (91) and forward Kristaps Porzingis (6) react after scoring a basket against the Detroit Pistons during first half at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 16, 2016; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks forward Mindaugas Kuzminskas (91) and forward Kristaps Porzingis (6) react after scoring a basket against the Detroit Pistons during first half at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 30, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves forward Karl-Anthony Towns (32) passes around New York Knicks forward Kristaps Porzingis (6) during the second quarter at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 30, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves forward Karl-Anthony Towns (32) passes around New York Knicks forward Kristaps Porzingis (6) during the second quarter at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports /

Defensive Player of the Quarter-Year: Kristaps Porzingis

It was difficult to name a Defensive Player of the Quarter-Year for the New York Knicks considering how bad the defense has been. Nevertheless, awards are meant to be won, and there had to be someone chosen for this distinction.

Though there weren’t many candidates, Kristaps Porzingis earned the honor based on the strength of his individual defensive play.

Porzingis currently leads the Knicks in defensive rebounds and blocks per game. More importantly, he’s holding opponents to 40.1 percent shooting from the field—a forced decline of 5.7 percent—and 41.2 percent shooting at the rim—the second-best mark in the NBA.

The team has been surprisingly poor on defense with Porzingis on the floor, but his effort has been one of the few positives on that end.

Porzingis has NBA Defensive Player of the Year potential at 7’3″ with a 7’4″ wingspan and unprecedented coordination and athleticism for a player his size. His play has been instrumental in the Knicks’ recent improvements and his mere presence on the court is a deterrent.

As the Knicks improve as a team on defense, Porzingis’ individual efforts should be better appreciated and put into perspective.

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