New York Knicks News: Kristaps Porzingis is Proving His Worth
Porzingis is definitely helping out the Knicks this season.
It's still early in the season and the New York Knicks are relatively having a better season than they had last year.
At the moment, the Knicks have an 8-8 record which brings them to third in the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference.
And while Carmelo Anthony is still the biggest name in the stadium, Madison Square Garden looks like they have a new hero to cheer for as well, rookie Kristaps Porzingis.
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Many still remember the shock that everyone had when the New York Knicks took the 20-year-old forward from Latvia as the fourth round pick.
With a plethora of talent available for them, even critics thought that the Knicks would go for a known player.
But it seems that they had a different plan and picked Porzingis – much to the concern of their fans.
However, heading into the new calendar year, fans have changed their tune and are now appreciative of what Porzingis is giving the team.
Now, Porzingis is heaping praises for his performances and there is talk of him possibly winning the NBA Rookie of the Year honors.
At the moment, Porzingis is averaging 13.4 points per game – good enough for second in the team.
He is leading the squad in rebounds with 9.1 per contest, and in blocks as he swats around 1.8 shots per game.
This is not bad for someone who was not wanted in New York only a few months before.
And it seems that even other players are starting to notice Porzingis and is giving him his due.
Minnesota Timberwolves star Kevin Garnett is one of those who appreciates the 20-year-old, and Porzingis recently revealed that he was given sound advice by the former NBA champion.
According to Porzingis, Garnett approached him during a summer league game and told him how to handle his detractors. Porzingis shared that Garnett told him to: "Use that as motivation. Just let that drive you every day when you step on the floor."
Those types of tips should help Porzingis go a long way in this league. And many believe that he is still a raw talent who will develop in the future. But with what he is showing at the moment, his potential may be a very scary sight for his opponents.
