New York Knicks power forward Kristaps Porzingis is viewed as a potential NBA superstar. Here’s what Porzingis needs to do in order to achieve that status.
The 7’3″ Unicorn we know as Kristaps Porzingis has been highly regarded by just about everyone who has watched him play. The skill, athleticism, and coordination that he’s shown have left New York Knicks fans and others drooling.
Porzingis projects to be a dominant force in the NBA, but doesn’t have that much to show for it. While his statistics and overall play were quite impressive in 2015-16 and 2016-17, KP must still answer questions about the type of player he’ll become in the NBA.
If Porzingis truly wants to be the centerpiece of a championship-caliber team in New York, there are still a few things that he must show before the Knicks can feel safe in fully investing in him as a franchise player.
As previously noted, the talent is not being questioned, but the overall intangibles that make an NBA superstar must still be checked off this list.
Here’s what New York Knicks phenom Kristaps Porzingis must do in order to reach that status.
Show Consistency
To be considered an NBA superstar, you must show up every single night. On a few occasions, Kristaps Porzingis would go on an absolute tear, effortlessly 20-plus points per outing during a three or four-game stretch.
But on other occasions, Porzingis would put together a stretch that would leave fans scratching their heads.
For example, between November 22 and November 30 of 2016, Porzingis went on a five-game tear. During that time, he averaged 24.4 points 7.2 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per gamewhile shooting a line of .484/.441/.833.
A stretch like that makes you start talking about building a team around a player and handing them the keys to the franchise.
But then, over the very next five games (December 2 to 9) after that stretch, KP averaged 13.8 points per game on 31.3 percent shooting from the field, 23.1 percent shooting from three-point range, and 76.5 percent shooting from the free throw line.
If Porzingis wants to be an NBA superstar, you can’t be on fire for five games, but the very next five games barely can draw iron.
You may say that’s just one instance, but if you truly paid attention last season, you know this happened quite a few times.
If KP wants to be seen as a superstar, he has to be a consistent force and stop stretches like that.
Durability
The dictionary definition of durability is: “The ability to withstand wear, pressure, or damage.” Over the course of his first two seasons in the NBA, Kristaps Porzingis hasn’t exactly shown the ability to do that.
During the first half of the 2016-17 season, KP was playing at an All-Star level, averaging over 19 points per game, shooting efficiently, and missing just five total games.
During the second half of the year, KP averaged just over 16 points per game with all shooting percentages suffering a sharp decline, namely from three-point range at 28.8 percent. Most concerning of all is that he missed 11 games
NBA superstars are available night in and night out, and are on their A game far more often than they aren’t. It’s tough to be considered a top player in the league while having a tail of two halves.
The New York Knicks need Porzingis to increase his overall durability to make sure that he’s available down the stretch, and be at his very best when it means the most.
Become The Focal Point Of The Offense
It’s safe to say that every single superstar in the NBA is one whom teams can confidently run their offense through. There are outstanding defensive players who deserve praise, but offensively, this is an absolute must to achieve superstar status.
For Kristaps Porzingis, his test will come with Jeff Hornacek running something other than the triangle offense for the New York Knicks.
If you can’t be “that guy” for your team, you can never be looked at as a top player in the NBA. Your team must be able to lean on you in big moments, and count on you every night to lead them to victory—namely on offense.
As much as everyone loves to criticize Carmelo Anthony, he was able to be the focus of an offense throughout the prime of his career.
This is such a critical part of Porzingis taking that next step because it demonstrates a player’s ability to take the heat and responsibility of being a true franchise player.
If Anthony ends up back in New York in 2017-18, the Knicks must refrain from running their system through him. The focus should be seeing what Porzingis can do with the keys to the franchise.
Team Success Matters
The superstars who are most respected in the NBA tend to have hardware and winning records to show for it. While it certainly isn’t Kristaps Porzingis who’s at fault for the losses, he’s now entering the stage of his career where he should show the ability to lead his team to wins.
The most valuable attribute to a team-first player is winning. If you have a history of being on losing teams and not being able to do anything about it, you are rarely seen as superior.
The leading aspect is one that Porzingis is still learning—an understandable reality at 22 years old. While Phil Jackson wasn’t the greatest executive, there was no excuse for Porzingis to blow him off for an exit interview.
This sent a terrible message to the press, and Knicks fans all around. KP can’t riot against management when he is the leader of a team, even if he was right.
Leading by example is essential to be seen as the leader of a team, and Porzingis must set an example for a winning culture in New York if he wants to be seen as a superstar.
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Thankfully, everything that Kristaps Porzingis needs to do is within his wheelhouse. The New York Knicks must now enable him to realize his potential.