By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Kristaps Porzingis is no longer a rookie and as the starting power forward of the Knicks, he is eager to make the next step of his career.
“My ballhandling is better now,” said Porzingis to the “NY Post“. “I just feel comfortable with the ball now. So you’re going to see some new stuff this season. You’re going to see some new stuff and hopefully some more put-back dunks.”
With Joakim Noah at center, the Knicks now have a formidable European front court. “Joakim’s a real leader,’’ Porzingis said. “He always talks while he’s playing defensively, and he’s telling me to talk to help teammates. He’s helping me a lot, giving me a lot of advice.”
And Porzingis is more ready and mature to handle the NBA after his first season, correcting some of his mistakes. The biggest of them? His body as he explains: “Last offseason, we made a little mistake that all I did was work upper body and try to get bigger. This offseason, I really focused on my lower strength, my legs, core, make sure that it’s strong. And that’s going to give me strength to be able to hold my ground defensively and offensively as well. And my legs have gotten much stronger. And I’m able to, when I’m driving, I’m able to stay lower. Defensively I can be lower and quick on my feet.”