Chicago Bulls big Lauri Markkanen and New York Knicks star Kristaps Porzingis look like they’ll have one of the NBA’s next great rivalries.
When Kristaps Porzingis first entered the league, immediate comparisons were drawn to Dirk Nowitzki. After all, Porzingis, like Nowitzki, is a seven-footer who can shoot from beyond the arc, which is seemingly all one needs to be compared to the Dallas Mavericks legend.
There’s clearly more to Nowitzki’s greatness, but even the future Hall of Famer has dubbed Porzingis as more athletic and more advanced at such a young age.
Porzingis went on to be dubbed the Unicorn, something never before seen on the NBA stage. And yet, here we are, two years after Porzingis entered the league, and there’s already another unicorn galloping through the NBA landscape.
Lauri Markkanen has surprised many NBA fans with his play so far this season. He’s producing to the tune of 15.4 points and 7.6 rebounds per game while shooting 36.7 percent from beyond the arc.
Many thought Markkanen would take some time to develop. Sound familiar Knicks fans?
Compare that to Porzingis’ rookie numbers of 14.3 points and 7.3 rebounds per game while shooting 33.3 percent from beyond the arc, and one could argue that Markkanen’s numbers are slightly better, although these don’t take into account Porzingis’s superior blocks per game average with 1.9 compared to 0.5.
Both players are tall, athletic, and can shoot the basketball. One of them has to be better though, right? That’s how competition works.
In sports, rivalries are formed mostly out of a mutual dislike for one another.
After three straight matchups in the NBA Finals, the Cavaliers and Warriors probably want to see each other lose more than they want to win. The Bulls and Knicks have faced off three times so far this season, and there has been no sign of dislike between the two big men.
At least, none that was noticeable on the court. But sometimes, the narrative that exists between two players is what creates a rivalry.
Kevin Durant has immense respect for LeBron James, but after falling second to him so many times, it’s no secret that he ultimately wants to dethrone The King, which only makes their matchups all the more entertaining.
Because of the incredible similarities between the play styles of Porzingis and Markkanen, they will undoubtedly be compared to each other throughout their careers.
If these players have any motivation to be great, then the urge to best a contemporary should no doubt push both Porzingis and Markkanen to be their very best in hopes of surpassing the other.
Each has been compared to Nowitzki, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see that comparison serve as a motivational tool for both of them in hopes of proving who truly is the heir to the throne.
One must also not forgot that former New York Knicks team president Phil Jackson reportedly wanted to trade Porzingis in the hopes of replacing him with Markkanen, which should only add more fuel to the fire.
Like any great rivalry, the seeds were planted early.
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If the narrative between these two future stars is any indication, these seeds will blossom into a beautiful rivalry for years to come.