Knicks legend Patrick Ewing has given his stamp of approval to lottery pick Kristaps Porzingis. The Knicks were battling the Hornets where Ewing is an assistant coach and he liked what he saw from up close. Porzingis had a very solid game with 10 pints and 15 rebounds and almost stole the show with a buzzer-beater which was 1 second late. Ewing likes how the rookie is playing early in this season.
“He’s a force to be reckoned with,” said Ewing, the Hornets’ associate head coach. “He looks like he’s going to be a fine addition to their team. He’s 7-3, but he’s a perimeter big,” Ewing said…When I played, the bigs, if you’re 7-3 you’d be on the blocks. I think he has a versatile game. His game is suited to the way the NBA is right now…He’s been doing a very good job. He’s not just out there shooting the jump shot. He’s getting in there getting offensive rebounds. He’s not a finesse big. He’s making a presence known.”
Phil Jackson’s impact is starting to show in New York with the Porzingis pick, Knicks’ picks have been very disappointing in the past but the young Latvian has been ahead of where “experts” projected him. Hopefully he can keep up his stellar play and make the early excitement in the Garden permanent.