Kristaps Porzingis Rejects 'Falsely Pushed' New York Knicks Narrative
Sometimes you can't help but run into your ex ... franchise face.
The New York Knicks did battle with Kristaps Porzingis for the second time in 10 games on Monday night when they tipped off a five-game road trip against the Boston Celtics. New York has endured plenty of Porzingis reunions before this season but donning the colors of the most enduring rival in Knicks history has added a new layer to the already complicated relationship with the Latvian big man.
Porzingis' metropolitan tenure was brought up in the aftermath of a 114-98 Boston victory, which allowed him to address the idea that he sought to be a one-man show or "franchise face" in New York.
"I think it was never an issue for me, it was always this narrative that was out there that, I think some of (those) guys that know me closer know how I am," Porzingis said of the idea he desired undisputed top option status in New York, per Stefan Bondy of the New York Post. "Of course, when you’re younger you’re a bit more cocky and arrogant. It’s just natural. You mature and get older and you understand things better. (But) I never had a big issue at all.”
Knicks fans need little reminder of the Porzingis saga, which began when he arrived as the fourth pick of the 2015 draft. Despite an initially icy reception, Porzingis was the star attraction of otherwise dreary Knick teams at the end of the prior decade and even earned an All-Star nod for his trouble in 2018.
But Porzingis was traded to the Dallas Mavericks while rehabbing an injury in 2019 amidst speculation that he did not want to share the metropolitan spotlight with free-agent-to-be Kevin Durant (who eventually signed with the Brooklyn Nets). He has since settled in Boston after five seasons between Dallas and Washington.
Porzingis noted that even if he wanted to be the top gun in Manhattan, standards set by the modern NBA made it difficult for a seven-footer to assume such duties, despite rare exceptions like Nikola Jokic in Denver and Joel Embiid in Philadelphia.
“Maybe it was falsely pushed. I never felt that way because today’s league is, other than Jokic and Embiid, it’s a guard league,” Porzingis said, per Bondy. “It’s mostly guards and small forwards. So I knew that if I want to win, you’re going to have to play with somebody."
After four seasons between Dallas and Washington, Porzingis has since settled in Boston. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown reign as the Celtics' undisputed top options and some would even argue that fellow newcomer Jrue Holiday ranks ahead of him in terms of the active Celtics' offensive hierarchy.
It's a situation, however, that Porzingis is certainly comfortable with. His current pace of just over 11 shots per game would stand as a career-low but he has been far more efficient to the tune of a 56 percent success rate.
Porzingis (L) drives against Mitchell Robinson in Monday's showdown between the Knicks and Celtics
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“Honestly, I still play pretty much the same," Porzingis noted, per Kristian Winfield of the New York Daily News. "There might be some games when I don’t get as many shots or things like that, but honestly I’m much more effective now than when I was shooting 18 shots per game."
Of course, it's somewhat easy to say that and accept such a role when Boston brought Porzingis in for the clear purpose of being the so-called missing piece to the championship puzzle. As they search for an elusive 18th title, the Celtics (8-2) boast one of the deepest teams in the league: defensive standout Derrick White rounds out the starting five while tenured veteran Al Horford is flanked by youngsters Sam Hauser and Payton Pritchard off the bench.
But if Boston needs him to steal a clutch win here and there, ego might as well take over.
"There’s going to be different games and different situations, and I’m going to be ready to step up or be there, support these guys," Porzingis noted in Winfield's report. "That’s why I’m here.”
The Knicks (5-5) have been forced to deal with both forms of Porzingis in their first two rounds: his poetic Celtics debut was a 30-point outing on opening night at Madison Square Garden back on Oct. 25 before he took on a more complementary role on Monday. Tatum led the way with 35 points (17 in the final period alone) but Porzingis nonetheless packed the box score with 21 points (7-of-11 from the field) and six rebounds. He was one of four Bostonians to hit at least three triples, part of a 19-of-42 outing that helped spell the Knicks' doom over the last stanzas.
Even with drama continuing to surround his final hours in Manhattan, Porzingis has offered friendly words to the Knicks since his departure. Porzingis planned to get comfortable in the outside again after torching the Knicks for five three-pointers on opening night but credited his interior successor Mitchell Robinson for his defensive work.
“I probably could’ve shot a couple more threes," Porzingis said, per Bondy. "But (Robinson) did a good job of running out to me but not falling for any pump fakes so I think he did a pretty good job."
He's also aware, however, that his special role in the eternal New York-Boston rivalry, isn't vanishing any time soon.
"It’s always good to see the staff from my time and all the people that are still there from my time," Porzingis declared, per Winfield. "It’s always special to play against the Knicks.”
The Knicks' next chance for revenge against Porzingis and the Celtics won't come until February. In the meantime, they'll continue a five-game road trip on Wednesday night against the Atlanta Hawks (7:30 p.m. ET, MSG).
