Kristaps Porzingis poised to turn New York boos into cheers
NEW YORK – NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announced the New York Knicks' first-round pick – the fourth overall – and Knicks fans booed as Latvia's slim, but gifted 7-footer Kristaps Porzingis walked on stage to shake hands and pose for photos with Silver.
The pressure was immense before the Knicks drafted Porzingis, who has spent the past two weeks in the USA addressing comparisons to Dirk Nowitzki and Pau Gasol: a seven-footer with three-point range, around-the-basket skills and a high basketball IQ. A combination of Nowitzki and Gasol is a heavy weight.
Then the woebegone Knicks – no championship since 1973 and a franchise-worst 17 wins in 2014-15 – drafted him.
This is how Porzingis, in polished English, answered the boos from a hardened, pessimistic, hypercritical fanbase in desperate need for a winning team.
"I have to do everything that's in my hands to turn those booing fans into clapping fans," he said. "There's nothing I can do. I was happy about it. I want to be a part of this organization, and I know the fans are a little harsh sometimes, but that's how it is here in New York, and I'm ready for it."
That right there should have turned some boos into cheers.
Porzingis, one of the more intriguing prospects with star potential in the draft, entered an unenviable position not of his doing, and he handled it spectacularly.
Porzingis envisioned playing for the Knicks.
"I want to be a part of this special organization, and I'm looking forward to it," he said.
He wants to play in the city, in that arena.
"Just being here in New York, just the fans, Madison Square Garden, such a historic place," he said of what he most anticipated.
Porzingis wants to play alongside Carmelo Anthony.
"Carmelo is a great player," he said. "He makes players around him better. Whatever theme, whatever Carmelo wants me to do, I will do that out on the court just to prove that I'm worthy enough to be on the court with him, starting with the dirty jobs; just getting rebounds, getting shots, getting blocks and just running the court."
And the triangle offense? "I know the basics of triangle offense," he said. "I'm not ready to be on the court yet, knowing all the little details about triangle offense, but for me I don't think it'll be a problem to adjust to that offense. I think it's a good offense; you just move a lot and there's always spacing. So I'm looking forward to learning that offense."
He has just the right amount of confidence, too.
"I think I have enough talent to be that special player, who can help the franchise get better results. I want to be that guy," he said.
When Knicks president Phil Jackson and his front office decided to take Porzingis, they – as ESPN's international basketball expert Fran Fraschilla said – swung for a grand-slam home run.
"The reward is great, the risk is great, too," Jackson told reporters.
But after Karl-Anthony Towns, D'Angelo Russell and Jahlil Okafor were selected 1-2-3, Porzingis was not only the best available, but the best available with a tantalizing upside. Porzingis can be a star, and he wants to be one. But can he be one in New York?
Knicks fans expect the No. 4 pick in the draft to rescue the franchise, and Porzingis is clashing with the European stereotypes and history. Darko Milicic, Jan Vesely, Frederic Weis, Nikoloz Tskitishvili are still punchlines, and Danilo Gallinari is still an unrewarding memory in the minds of Knicks fans.
"A lot of people think because I'm European and I'm white, I don't really love the game," Porzingis said. "They say Europeans like basketball, Americans love basketball. That's the thing about me, I love the game, I love to be in the gym by myself just shooting or with my brother just working out. I just love working out. That's going to help me in the long run."
When Porzingis came to the United States for a basketball trip three years ago, he realized he wanted to play in the NBA and realized he needed to learn English. His parents got him a tutor, and when he played professionally in Spain, he learned Spanish.
His family knew he had the ability to play in the NBA for several years. But he really became an NBA prospect two summers ago at the under-18 European championship when he was named to the all-tournament team.
"For (my family) it started since I was a little kid," Porzingis explained. "For me, I try to go step by step. I never imagined I would play in the ACB (Spanish pro league). Maybe the Latvian league. But then once you grow older and keep working and you see the result, you set higher goals for yourself.
"I could never imagine I would be in this situation right now. I put all the work in. For me, it's a dream to play in the NBA. For them, they already knew it when I was kid. We're ready for this."
Porzingis is ready. Knicks fans should be, too.