Watch Kristaps Porzingis’s fellow NBA rookies try (and fail) to spell his name
New York Knicks draft pick Kristaps Porzingis has a name that’s tough to spell. Just ask his fellow NBA rookies.
If we’re being pedantic, the spelling on the Knicks’ website isn’t really correct. Porzingis actually has two accent marks in his last name, making the correct spelling Porziņģis.
His family is full of tongue-twisting names. His parents are Tālis and Ingrīda, and his brothers are named Jānis and Mārtiņš.
When the group of NBA rookies was asked to spell Porzingis's name, only No. 1 pick Karl-Anthony Towns and Rockets first-rounder Sam Dekker spelled both his first and last name correctly. Pacers first-rounder Myles Turner missed it by just one letter.
The Kings' first-round pick Willie Cauley-Stein didn't even give the impromptu spelling bee a shot and just shook his head at the camera.
“Come on, guys. My name is not that hard,” Porzingis said. “Kris. Porzingis. It's easy, man.”
The NBA's other new kids might agree to disagree.
