Kristaps Porzingis has another basketball idol, and the value of the New York Knicks increased following the sale of the Rockets.
Before Kristaps Porzingis takes on Slovenia in the EuroBasket quarterfinals on Tuesday he tweeted out a photo of him speaking with a former Brooklyn Net. The New York Knicks star is seen talking to Andrei Kirilenko.Porzingis describes the president of the Russian Basketball Federation as one of his “idols” both on and off the court.
With Andrei Kirilenko.
With one of my biggest idols on and off the court.
Always an honor ?? pic.twitter.com/AJnHdYIXHG— Kristaps Porzingis (@kporzee) September 11, 2017
Kirilenko, nicknamed AK-47, played 13 seasons in the NBA; 10 with the Utah Jazz before short stints in Minnesota (1) and Brooklyn (2). He was known as a defensive specialist.
Porzingis’ Latvian squad gave Russia their only loss of the tournament, 84-69, but that doesn’t seem to impact the friendship of these two international stars.
Both Latvia and Russia are in the quarterfinals. Russia, led by current Net Timofey Mozgov, plays Greece on Wednesday.
The sale of the Houston Rockets by former owner Leslie Alexander for $2.2 billion to local businessman Tilman Fertitta was the greatest amount in NBA history.
This record sale apparently benefits the Knicks. According to Ian Begley of ESPN, New York is now worth $3.5 billion.
One market analyst estimates that the Knicks are worth $3.5 billion after the Houston Rockets sale, per the Chicago Tribune.
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) September 10, 2017
Despite poor on the court performances, this team continues to remain the most valuable in the NBA.
Elite Sports NY’s Collin Loring ponders why Carmelo Anthony is no longer wearing a hoodie.
Loring also takes a look at the potential pairing of Jabari Parker and Kristaps Porzingis.
