Mavs' Dirk Nowitzki on Knicks' Kristaps Porzingis: 'He's for real'
Knicks rookie center Kristaps Porzingis has been compared to just about every white guy over 6-foot-11 who isn't from the United States.
Andrea Bargnani? Check.
Darko Milicic? Check.
Jan Vesely? Czech and Check.
Those are the worst-case scenarios, but as we see more and more of Kristaps, we're seeing continual evidence that he won't be anything like those guys. So, the best-case-scenario comparison has started to shine through, and that scenario is Dirk Nowitzki.
Naturally, the Dallas Mavericks big man and German national had some things to say about the tall Knicks rookie sensation, via ESPN's Marc Stein:
Says Dirk: "He is long. He is athletic. He is tough. He's got a touch. He can put it on the floor.
"He is for real," Nowitzki repeats. "Sky's the limit."
Dirk's not wrong. Porzingis has been fantastic during his first 12 games as a pro, averaging 12.8 points and 8.6 rebounds per game, putting up no better performance than his 29-point, 11-rebound showing against the Hornets during the Knicks' most recent game.
It's been all positives so far for Porzingis, so why should we start to shy away from the Dirk comparisons? As he keeps hitting 3s and grabbing boards, the comps are just going to keep coming.
Just don't call him the Zinger.
