Everyone loves playing the comparison game. Who does player X remind you of, past or present? Sometimes, the results are favorable, other times, they're not so kind.
So, what should we make of rookie Kristaps Porzingis, a 7-foot-tall, 220-pound big man with above average handles, a good mid-range game and below average strength? Former Lakers great James Worthy sees a "combination of Kevin Durant and Dirk Nowitzki." That comparison alone should make every Knicks head to their local sporting goods store and purchase a jersey right then and there. But not so fast.
Knicks president Phil Jackson has another comparison to throw out there and it'll probably make you want to take that jersey you just bought and burn it immediately. In the latest edition of his discussion with Charley Rosen for ESPN, the Zen Master reveals that trusted scout Clarence Gaines was the one who convinced him to take Porzingis with the fourth overall pick in this year's draft.
However, Phil is concerned that his frame and lack of strength will turn him into someone like Shawn Bradley in the long run.
"Jackson projects that Porzingis will add at least 10 pounds of muscle before his first season commences, yet concerns still linger over his prize draft pick. "Like Shawn Bradley, who was nevertheless a pretty good player, KP might almost be too tall for the game. What I mean is that his core strength might never be good enough, and that he might not be able to get low enough to get himself into prime defensive position to body power rebounders or drivers."
Wait, wait. The Knicks may have used that high lottery pick on a Bradley-type of player?
#knickstape
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[via Eye On Basketball]
