Sir Charles in Charge
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NBA: Young stars and their potential HOF comparisons

By Ryan Magdziarz

NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 07: Dirk Nowitzki #41 of the Dallas Mavericks and Kristaps Porzingis #6 of the New York Knicks fight for position at Madison Square Garden on December 7, 2015 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 07: Dirk Nowitzki #41 of the Dallas Mavericks and Kristaps Porzingis #6 of the New York Knicks fight for position at Madison Square Garden on December 7, 2015 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – DECEMBER 25: Kristaps Porzingis #6 of the New York Knicks dunks the ball against the Boston Celtics at Madison Square Garden on December 25, 2016 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – DECEMBER 25: Kristaps Porzingis #6 of the New York Knicks dunks the ball against the Boston Celtics at Madison Square Garden on December 25, 2016 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /

Kristaps and Dirk

We have made the comparisons ever since Kristaps entered the league. A giant foreign big who has the ability to stretch the floor and knock down open 3’s at a higher than average clip. Almost every overseas player over 6-foot-8 who can shoot 3’s is labeled as “The Next Dirk” by analysts across the nation. The term is thrown around looser than J.R. Smith gets after playoff wins.

Porzingis has been the closest thing to holding up the lofty Nowitzki comparison. Both the 7-foot-3 Latvian and the 7-foot German missed out on the playoffs their first two years in the league. Dirk struggled more than Kristaps during his rookie season, tallying 8.2 points and 3.4 rebounds per game. Compare that to KPorzee who went off for 14.3 points and 7.3 rebounds per game as a rook.

After early struggles in 1999 (which also happened to be a lock out season), Dirk settled in to what would be his future self. He jumped to 17.5 ppg while nearly doubling his rebounds with 6.5 per game. A lot of this was due to opportunity. Dirk started 81 of 82 games his sophomore year playing 35.2 minutes which is a much higher workload than starting 24 games and getting 20.4 minutes as a rookie.

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While looking at Kristaps Porzingis and Dirk Nowitzki’s cumulative stats of their rookie and sophomore years side by side, all you need to do is enter the GIF of the two identical spiderman pointing at each other. Porzingis averaged 16.1 ppg to go along with 7.3 rebounds while Dirk averaged 14.1 and 5.4. Dirk averaged a tad more assists (1.9 to 1.4), while Kristaps has been more of a rim protector early on and averages 1.9 bpg compared to Dirk’s 0.7.

Both players averaged the same amount of steals per game (0.7) and turnovers per game (1.7) through their sophomore seasons which is due to the similar role they played on their respected teams. Dirk’s Michael Finley (ball dominant 22.6 ppg scorer) was Kristaps’ Carmelo Anthony (ball dominant 22.4 ppg scorer). They both were playing second fiddle and sometimes even third options for their teams offense.

Dirk has the smallest advantage from the three-point line so far due to consistency, but it’s very similar. KPorzee is sitting at 34.6 percent from three averaging 4 attempts a game. Dirk through two seasons averaged almost three (2.9) three-point attempts per game shooting at 34.8 percent.

As far as their game play goes, Dirk has said it himself (via SI.com):

"“I was scared to death when i was out there as a rookie. He’s way better than i was at 20 years old.”"

The rookie numbers don’t lie, and neither does Dirk. Porzingis is more athletic than Dirk despite being three inches taller. He has the ability to put the ball on the floor after a “too aggressive” big guy close out. Early Dirk would have the ability to take one dribble inside the airborne defender to settle for a mid range jimmy, but that was the max.

Both players have insane footwork and skill for their height, but Dirk pattenned a move that Porzingis admittedly steals. The sexy one-legged fade away. As any good predecessor, you watch film of the greats before you and implement it into your game to become better. Defensively, Porzingis’ length and athletic ability leave no doubt who is the better defender. The numbers show early on in both of their careers Kristaps blocks more shots, and the video proves he also changes more shots at the rim.

Dirk’s career high in blocks per game in a single season was 1.5. Porzingis averaged nearly two blocks per game already just last season.

A big reason for this is the era they played in. The Warriors have made small ball the new norm for NBA teams in this generation. In the early 2000’s, teams played two beefy, back to the basket post players who couldn’t really stretch the floor, which is what made Dirk stand out. He primarily played Power Forward in almost every Dallas Maverick set he played in.

Today, the Knicks play a lot of sets with Porzingis as a stretch five, which gives him the freedom to roam around the perimeter offensively, but sticks him down on the low block to rim protect defensively.

Looking at their freshman and sophomore seasons, the obvious upper hand goes to Kristaps Porzingis, but that’s why comparing eras and players of different ages is so fun. Dirk is a 13 time All-Star, NBA Finals MVP, 6th all time in NBA history in scoring, and has a championship to his name. He is an unquestionable Hall of Famer and goes up in the rafters as an all time legend, but how wild is it that Porzingis is off to a hotter start?

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