Fans jeer after Knicks pick Latvian F Porzingis fourth in draft
The New York Knicks selected Latvian forward Kristaps Porzingis with the fourth pick of the NBA Draft on Thursday night ... much to the dismay of some of their fans.
Porzingis averaged 10.7 points, 4.8 rebounds and one block in 33 games for Cajasol Seville in the Spanish League during the 2014-15 season, but the relatively unknown European talent was not a popular pick among the Knicks faithful in attendance at the Barclays Center.
The crowd largely jeered the selection, and ESPN cameras found Knicks fans -- known for their colorful draft-night reactions over the years -- looking distraught. One boy even appeared to be crying and taking a selfie of his misery. You can see it all at this link.
Perhaps those fans will want to reserve judgement. The 19-year-old Porzingis is 6 feet 11, 220 pounds. He had worked out with the Knicks leading up to the draft and was widely considered one of the top players on the board.
Kentucky center Karl-Anthony Towns, Ohio State guard D'Angelo Russell and Duke center Jahlil Okafor were off the board when New York drafted.
The fourth overall pick was New York's highest since selecting Patrick Ewing first overall in 1985.
New York missed the playoffs the last two seasons.
Following a 2014-15 season in which New York finished with the second-worst record in the NBA at 17-65, the Knicks have significant holes at four of five positions.
New York averaged 98.6 points per game, ranking 20th in the league. The Knicks were also out-rebounded by an average of 1.7 boards per game, grabbing 40.3 rebounds per game (27th).
The Knicks' minus-1.4 turnover ratio was tied for 26th while their 1.61 assists-to-turnover ratio was 13th in the league.
New York's only position set for next season is small forward with Carmelo Anthony. After agreeing to a five-year, $124 million deal last July, Anthony was limited to 40 games last season because of left knee surgery in February.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
