Early Impressions of Kristaps Porzingis at 2015 NBA Summer League
It's only been about a week of NBA Summer League for the New York Knicks, but frantic fans should be able to breathe a sigh of relief. Rookie big man Kristaps Porzingis has flashed the advertised upside without setting off any alarms or raising new concerns. And quite frankly, the old ones exposed weren't overly troubling.
He's been efficient in the role coach Derek Fisher assigned him early—despite playing for mostly five-minute intervals, Porzingis has been able to capitalize on the few plays run for him each game.
He's ultimately showcased the skill level and two-way talent that fueled all the buzz surrounding him overseas. But we've also seen why it might take a few years for Porzingis to really blow up.
Offense
As promising as his shooting touch has looked, it's Porzingis' ability to make shots in so many different ways that drives the mismatch he presents as a 7'1" scorer.
We're not just talking about a spot-up threat—Porzingis has shown he can get himself open, either with the dribble or off-ball movement, and subsequently convert jumpers, runners, hooks and awkward finishes.
His high release point also leads to fouls in the paint and uncontested looks on the perimeter.
Porzingis' signature Summer League shot may have come on a 20-foot isolation jumper over Philadelphia 76ers center Jahlil Okafor—a bucket that highlighted his go-to scoring potential:
One of the things that separates Porzingis from most stretch bigs—and it's something we saw from him abroad—is the fact he can free himself with screens and shoot off curls and flashes.
You just don't see many defensive bigs comfortable fighting through picks away from the basket.
Watch how quickly Porzingis loses Okafor before popping out around the foul line for an open catch-and-shoot 15-footer:
Porzingis has also proved he's comfortable putting it on the floor, which can cause all sorts of trouble for laterally challenged bigs.
While defenders must respect his jumper, Porzingis can make them pay for closing out too hard.
In this example, Porzingis catches the ball open in the corner, though he recognizes Lakers forward Larry Nance Jr. charging:
Instead of pulling the trigger from three, Porzingis anticipates Nance's lunge, pumps and blows right by him to the rack, where he displays impressive shot-making ability on the move:
Though international prospects are typically labeled as raw, Porzingis has demonstrated fairly sharp offensive fundamentals.
He's even made some impressive quick-decision passes that suggest an improved feel for the game.
The areas where Porzingis has struggled are mostly related to a lack of strength, something we knew about coming in.
At times, he's had trouble establishing position with his back to the basket. We've seen Porzingis try to initiate contact, only to bounce backward. He also isn't particularly strong with the ball. Porzingis has been stripped a few times going up, and he's failed to secure the occasional loose rebound around the basket.
Unfortunately, he didn't have much of an opportunity to play in rhythm. It would have been nice to see Porzingis get more touches and opportunities to create.
But he gave Knicks fans a small sample of everything in Vegas, as well as a reason to feel encouraged regarding his offensive outlook.
Defense
There were questions as to how much Porzingis' slight frame would hurt him on defense. And though being skinny doesn't help, it didn't keep him from making a positive defensive impact in Summer League.
With towering height, a giant 7'6" wingspan and quick, light feet, Porzingis is capable of covering a vast area, having blocked a handful of shots in Vegas.
If anything, Porzingis proved he can be a disruption, regardless of how much bulk he puts on immediately. His size, length and athleticism should continue allowing him to make plays on the ball.
However, defensive playmaking doesn't necessarily equate to sound defense.
Okafor beat Porzingis with both quickness and power on separate occasions. Once the regular season gets going, stronger opposing bigs are bound to pound Porzingis in the post.
The good news is that he battles. Porzingis has shown a willingness to bang, as well as the length that helps make up some of the ground he loses when getting bumped back.
"He loves to compete,’’ Fisher told the New York Post's Marc Berman. “A lot of young guys don’t love the game and competing and mixing it up the way he does. I don’t think he thinks of his frame as a disadvantage. He’s willing to get down and dirty. I think he showed that tonight. He stood up to Okafor and played him."
Still, Porzingis picked up five fouls against the Lakers and seven against the Sixers (10-foul maximum in Summer League). Power forwards and centers in the U.S. move differently than the big men in Europe. It's clear it should take a few seasons before he adjusts to the speed, bounce and officiating of the NBA game.
But overall, based on his obvious physical limitations at 19 years old, Porzingis has been as effective as his role and body allow him to be.
He's going to make silly mistakes and struggle with contact around the basket, and he could go stretches without making much noise.
However, Porzingis gave us a glimpse of the entire repertoire, which could translate to All-Star versatility at each end of the floor if he can eventually put it all together.
"We just thought he was one of those guys that had so much upside and had certain skills that you just don’t see,’’ general manager Steve Mills told Berman.
With the exception of a few rough patches, Porzingis has made as good of an impression as he could have under the circumstances. He's given us reason to believe the predraft hype was legitimate, even if it means waiting for him to physically mature.
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