Kristaps Porzingis’ role with the New York Knicks this season was expected to take a step back from his rookie year. With incoming talent like former NBA MVP Derrick Rose, a new frontcourt partner in Joakim Noah and a ball dominant point guard coming off the bench in Brandon Jennings, it was hard for some to view KP as anything more than a third option. And on some nights, he might even be as low as fifth when it comes to touching the ball in the offense.
Against the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday night, he changed that narrative dramatically. Porzingis played 40 minutes in the game and dropped a career-high 35 points. He shot 13-22 from the field, 3-7 from three, 6-7 from the free throw line and he also grabbed seven rebounds and handed out three assists. The career night for KP also came with some MVP chants from the Madison Square Garden crowd.
If anything, this just proves that the Knicks need to stop wasting Porzingis’ talent and start showcasing him as the next star. Sure, Carmelo wants to win right now and Derrick Rose has only one more year on his deal but after they’re gone, Kristaps Porzingis will be the lone wolf. It’s time to move him up in the pecking order.
And about those MVP chants? Well, it doesn’t appear that KP is quite ready for that yet. But they might actually be warranted in the future.
Porzingis on MVP chants: "too early."
— Al Iannazzone (@Al_Iannazzone) November 17, 2016
