The New York Knicks much maligned first round pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, Kristaps Porzingis, made a very nice first impression in the summer league. Not only did Porzingis show his skill and ability to block shots but he also showed that despite his lack of visible strength he will not back down from anyone in the low post. Porzingis played mostly center for the Knicks during the summer league and he is also expected to see some time there during the regular season. In order for Porzingis to be successful as a center though he wants to put on at least 10 more pounds, according to Marc Berman of the New York Post.
Porzingis currently weighs about 232 pounds which at 7 foot-3 is extremely light especially for someone who is going to be banging bodies with guys like Dwight Howard. Porzingis will be undergoing a very intense weight gaining program once he comes over to the United States full time to prepare for the season. Porzingis said his goal is put on at least 10 more pounds by the start of Knicks training camp which is October 1st.
Porzingis certainly held his own as a center in summer league but is not getting carried away with those results as he knows the regular season is a whole other animal.
"I'm not thinking: 'I did good in summer league, now I'm going to do good in the NBA.' Our training camp will start later and I have to prove myself once again, play as hard as I can and earn my minutes. That was just summer league a few games to see how I compare to other rookies and get a taste of American basketball," said Porzingis.
Porzingis currently considers himself a power forward because of his lack of strength and his inability, right now, to guard other NBA centers. Despite considering himself a power forward the 20 year old Latvian likes the idea of playing center down the road.
"It was something new for me. I could compete with all those guys like Jahlil Okafor and see how big and strong they are. It was fun playing against them. It wasn't easy. I think right now I'm a power forward. Once I get stronger, I can really play defense on other centers," said Porzingis.
Porzingis has a little less than two months to be able to reach his goal of adding more than 10 pounds. Porzingis seems fully committed to becoming a great basketball player so it appears as though he will be spending a lot of time in the gym so he can put that weight on and handle other centers. If he is able to put on that weight and handle opposing centers on the defensive side of the ball he has the potential to be a matchup nightmare on offense.
