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New York Knicks: Five Reasons Kristaps Porzingis Needs To Train With Dirk Nowitzki

By Maxwell Ogden

Dec 7, 2015; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks forward Kristaps Porzingis (6) shoots over Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki (41) during the first quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 7, 2015; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks forward Kristaps Porzingis (6) shoots over Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki (41) during the first quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 12, 2017; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks forward Kristaps Porzingis (6) shoots over San Antonio Spurs forward Davis Bertans (42) during the second quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 12, 2017; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks forward Kristaps Porzingis (6) shoots over San Antonio Spurs forward Davis Bertans (42) during the second quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Becoming The No. 1 Scorer, Part I

During his first two seasons with the New York Knicks, Kristaps Porzingis has faced alleviated pressure as a scorer. That’s been a direct result of Carmelo Anthony’s presence as the go-to scoring option in the offenses run by Derek Fisher, Jeff Hornacek, and Kurt Rambis.

Porzingis has performed at a high level as a No. 2 and No. 3 scoring option, but Dirk Nowitzki can show him how to handle the pressure of becoming the go-to player.

Learning the moves and when to use them will be a journey unto itself, but it’s only a piece of the puzzle. Along with having the fundamental basketball skills is needing to know how to handle the burden of expectations.

If anyone can teach Porzingis how to overcome a potentially rocky start and stabilize the ship, it’s the man who endured that exact beginning to his career.

Nowitzki underwhelmed as a rookie and was merely solid in his second season, but he took over as Dallas’ top scorer in his third season. Whether or not Carmelo Anthony is traded, Porzingis could potentially follow that same path.

Now an NBA champion, Finals MVP, NBA MVP, and 12-time All-NBA honoree, Nowitzki knows a thing or two about thriving in a No. 1 role.

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