New York Knicks: It’s Time To Slow Down On The Kristaps Porzingis Hype
The New York Knicks aren’t doing any favors to Kristaps Porzingis by building him up as a potential generational big man
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The New York Knicks weren’t afraid to go against the grain on draft night, drafting the unknown commodity. Kudos to them. What they can’t do, however, is continue to pile the pressure on their young rookie.
Kristaps Porzingis could very well end up being the best player from overseas to ever make it in the NBA. That could very well happen. They just can’t hold that to him now. And that’s exactly what some in the Knicks front office are doing.
Intentionally or not, it isn’t good.
In this latest case, it consists of associate head coach Kurt Rambis calling Porzingis a combination of Pau Gasol and Dirk Nowitzki, two of the most successful European big men to EVER touch a basketball in the NBA.
Meanwhile, poor Porzingis has yet to play in an official NBA game.
"[via New York Post]Perhaps the most successful European big men in recent times are Gasol, whom Rambis coached, and Nowitzki.“He might be a combination of both of them,’’ Rambis said. ‘He can do so many things. You guys haven’t seen it yet. And some of it won’t come out for three, four, five years either. He’s got to grow up, mature, develop, get stronger and [get] used to the NBA game. He already understands basketball and knows what to do, and he’s an unselfish player. He makes really good decisions. It wasn’t like he was a blank slate coming here.’’Aside from his intensive work ethic, Porzingis also has an unprecedented gift.“He’s got 3-point range — like effortless 3-point range, too,’’ Rambis said. “It’s not even hard for him to shoot for distance.’’"
It’s one thing to explain his traits and potential. It’s OK to say that he has a 3-point game. It’s not OK to say that he’s Nowitzki OR Gasol OR a combination of them. No. No. No.
Not yet.
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Let’s at least give Porzingis a chance before he has to answer why he isn’t as successful as Gasol, or any of the other European greats. I understand why some of these things could legitimately help feed Porzingis’ confidence. I understand it’s how some athletes are configured. But it could also lead to early failure.
Sure, the argument could be used that it will take years for Porzingis to reach this level of talent, but comments like these still places his ceiling extremely high. It could lead to quick criticism.
I’m sure another part of this is justification for their selection in this past summer’s draft, but that can wait. At least until Porzingis suits up for his first official game.