Phil Jackson Speaks on Kristaps Porzingis' Skill Set, Hopes for His Rookie Year

The New York Knicks demonstrated a rare bit of long-term vision when they drafted Kristaps Porzingis fourth overall in the 2015 draft. In an interview with Charley Rosen on ESPN.com, team president Phil Jackson opened up about the decision-making process behind drafting Porzingis and what the franchise expects for him in 2015-16.

Jackson told Rosen he wanted to go with a big man in the first round. The Philadelphia 76ers had taken Jahlil Okafor third overall, so the Knicks' options were realistically Porzingis, Willie Cauley-Stein, Frank Kaminsky and Myles Turner—the latter two New York could've potentially traded down and then drafted.

Jackson's mind was likely made up well before draft night after team adviser Clarence Gaines Jr. directed him to Porzingis' performance against FIATC Joventut in the final game of the season.

"Although the competition in the Spanish League is more physical, more consistent and more advanced than even the best D-I college teams over here, KP more than held his own," Jackson said of the 20-year-old. "He had a long, lively body, a well-developed basketball IQ, a soft shot with terrific range and he didn't back down from anybody. Plus, he showed an amazing athleticism for somebody his size."

Jackson admitted drafting Porzingis comes with some risk. He worries the Latvian forward could prove to be "too tall for the game," meaning his center of gravity might never be low enough so as to make him a solid defender and/or rebounder.

There's also the issue as to whether Porzingis can thrive in the triangle offense. He got a little experience with the tactic during the NBA Summer League, averaging 10.5 points on 48 percent shooting and 3.2 rebounds in four games for New York.

Chris Herring of the Wall Street Journal saw some positives from his performances:

Jackson added he won't mandate Knicks head coach Derek Fisher to play Porzingis a set number of minutes every night but that he'd like to see the rookie on the floor for at least 20 minutes a game until he grows more comfortable in the NBA.

Knicks fans eagerly await his regular-season debut, but nobody would be surprised if he needs a few months or even the entirety of his rookie year before he finally hits his stride in the NBA.

The success or failure of the team's gamble on Porzingis won't be truly known until years down the road.