By George Efkarpides / info@eurohoops.net
There is no doubt that Kristaps Porzingis is a revolutionary talent. From getting booed on draft night to quickly becoming a fan favorite at the “Big Apple”, at 22 Porzingis has already developed into an all-star type player with great room for improvement.
Not often do you see a player average 1.73 3’s made and 2.0 blocks per game with guard-like handles. KP has impressed the basketball world mostly due to his versatility, and while there is significant room for improvement, he put on a show in this years Eurobasket averaging 23,6 points and 5,9 rebounds per game.
He has a great balance between his inside and perimeter game and although his mid-range shooting needs “polishing”, he is lethal from beyond the arc.
Many compare him to Dirk Nowitzki, but his athleticism and quick release differ in comparison to the latter.
While he was part of a very problematic New York Knicks team, “Porzingod” actually had a solid sophomore year, with averages of 18 points, 7 boards and 2 blocks per game.
He carried that fire with him to the Eurobasket and dominated the tournament from the start. Unfortunately for him, Slovenia edged Latvia and KP will have to wait a few more years before trying to bring a medal to his country again.
At the moment, the only key weakness to Prozingis’ game is foul-trouble. While Davis Bertans may be right in claiming that refs at this years Eurobasket are under-qualified, KP has had the same problems in the NBA.
He averaged 3,7 fouls per game during the 2016-2017 season, only second to DeMarcus Cousins. Naturally, his club, as well as his national team, become completely different with him off the floor.
Let’s not forget, we are talking about a 7′ 3″ player, who shoots like a guard and alters shots with the same ease. If KP wants to take that extra step, he must figure out a way to utilize his fouls. Otherwise, he will be spending key moments on the bench.
In elimination games, like the one he experienced against Slovenia, being able to stay on the floor for one or two extra possessions could make a huge difference and that’s when his teams will need him the most.
(Photo credit: FIBA.basketball)