Kristaps Porzingis was as soon as speculated to be the Knicks’ resolution.
Drafted No. 4 general by the Knicks in 2015, the 7-3 heart from Latvia rapidly demonstrated uncommon abilities that allowed followers to dream.
He might shoot.
He might rating.
He blocked photographs with ease.
And he entered the NBA at simply 19 years previous.
It wasn’t tough to ascertain Porzingis, with the requisite growth and the correct roster round him, changing into the centerpiece of deep Knicks playoff runs.
However now Porzingis is standing of their means.
Now in his second season with the Boston Celtics, Porzingis is going through the Knicks in a playoff collection for the primary time.
The second-round collection gained’t make its technique to New York till Saturday, when Madison Sq. Backyard hosts Sport 3, however Porzingis’ return is among the greatest storylines in a matchup stuffed with them.
“My first couple games were pretty crazy there, getting booed and stuff,” Porzingis mentioned forward of Sport 1 at TD Backyard in Boston. “But I think now the time has passed, and it’s not as recent anymore. I’ve changed a couple of teams already.”
The Knicks had been recent off of a 17-65 season once they drafted Porzingis, whose slim body and want for growth made him a dangerous choice.
Knicks followers famously booed the choose at that draft at Barclays Middle, and rumors swirled that Carmelo Anthony, then the face of the franchise, was sad with the selection. However then-Knicks president Phil Jackson hailed Porzingis as a “once-in-a-lifetime” prospect.
It didn’t take lengthy for Porzingis to endear himself to Knicks followers.
The Knicks bought off to a 22-22 begin throughout Porzingis’ rookie season. Kevin Durant described the uniquely gifted Porzingis as a “unicorn.”
Whereas the Knicks faltered from there and missed the playoffs, Porzingis averaged 14.3 factors, 7.3 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per sport and completed second in NBA Rookie of the 12 months voting, behind solely Karl-Anthony Cities, then of the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Porzingis’ manufacturing solely improved within the subsequent seasons. He averaged 18.1 factors per sport in 2016-17 and 22.7 factors per sport as a first-time All-Star in 2017-18.
However the Knicks continued to overlook the playoffs amid an absence of stability.
Jackson and the Knicks parted methods after Porzingis’ sophomore yr, with Steve Mills changing him. Porzingis had three completely different head coaches — Derek Fisher, Kurt Rambis and Jeff Hornacek — in his first three seasons.
Porzingis’ third season ended abruptly when he suffered a left ACL tear in February 2018.
That offseason, the Knicks declined to signal Porzingis to a rookie extension, promising them a further $10 million in cap house forward of a loaded free company the subsequent summer season.
When his fourth season started — with one other new head coach in Dave Fizdale — Porzingis was nonetheless rehabbing from the knee damage.
Earlier than he returned to the court docket, the Knicks despatched Porzingis to the Dallas Mavericks in a February 2019 commerce for a return that included Dennis Smith Jr. and two first-round picks.
“We could see that he wasn’t completely buying into what we were trying to do,” Mills mentioned after the commerce, including, “He made it clear to us when he came in to meet with us that he no longer wanted to be part of our group.”
Porzingis averaged 17.8 factors, 7.1 rebounds and a couple of.0 blocks per sport over 186 appearances with the Knicks.
He spent components of three seasons with the Mavericks and components of two with the Washington Wizards earlier than the Celtics acquired Porzingis from Washington in a three-team commerce. Boston despatched level guard Marcus Sensible to the Memphis Grizzlies in that deal.
Porzingis proved to be a lacking piece, serving to the Celtics final summer season win their first championship in 16 years.
This season, he averaged 19.5 factors, 6.8 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per sport.
Porzingis appeared in solely two of the Celtics’ 4 video games towards the Knicks — a regular-season collection that Boston swept, 4-0 — however he erupted for 34 factors and shot 8-of-13 on 3-point makes an attempt in an additional time win on the Backyard final month.
“I love playing there, honestly,” Porzingis mentioned over the weekend. “A lot of even just people that come to the games, I remember them from my first few years in the league. I have a relationship with them and say hi to them before the game and talk some stuff throughout the game. It’s always fun to go up against them.”
Porzingis has averaged 21.7 factors, 7.5 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per sport in 15 regular-season conferences with the Knicks.
He overlapped with Knicks heart Mitchell Robinson throughout the latter’s rookie season in New York, although the pair by no means performed collectively on account of Porzingis’ restoration from knee surgical procedure. He additionally performed with Jalen Brunson in Dallas.
And whereas the third-seeded Knicks search their first championship since 1973 and their first journey past the second spherical since 2000, Porzingis believes the second-seeded Celtics face extra strain.
“We’re going to be the favorites in betting odds, right?” Porzingis mentioned. “If anything, it’s us who have more to lose because we’re supposed to win.”
Initially Printed: Might 5, 2025 at 12:25 PM EDT
