Carmelo Anthony wants to be a 'big brother' to rookie Porzingis
If anyone can relate to the pressure Kristaps Porzingis is about to face in New York, it's Carmelo Anthony. 'Melo has been under loads of scrutiny since coming over from the Nuggets. Porzingis, meanwhile, hasn't even played in the NBA yet and is already hearing about how much he needs to do to help.
So, Anthony is using this as an opportunity to act as a mentor to KP.
Here's more from Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News:
“I’m going to try to kind of be a big brother to him, and kind of take the pressure off him a little bit,” Anthony said. “There’s going to be so much pressure. It’s something he’s never experienced before. He’s 19 years old, first time in the NBA, this is new to him. To be a newcomer into this game, into this league, in New York, that’s tough. I don’t think he knows what he’s about to get himself into him so I got to kind of be that wall for him.”
Porzingis and Anthony got closer playing one-on-one games against each other over the summer, and the rookie says he actually won a few of those. If he can take a pressure, there's all the reason to believe a kid who's over 7-feet, who can shoot threes, who has length and who has athleticism can find success in the NBA.
Porzingis performed well at Las Vegas Summer League and actually did a nice job on the defensive end of the floor, as well.
