Before the New York Knicks and Dallas Mavericks officially tip-off tonight, we made sure to compare Kristaps Porzingis and Dirk Nowitzki yet again.
New York Knicks (10-11)
Dallas Mavericks (12-9)
NBA, Tonight, 7:30 PM on FSSW, MSG
Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, New York
By Robby Sabo
KP is over 7′ tall and can shoot the lights out from deep. We know how long Nowitzki’s been doing this over the course of his 18-year stellar NBA career. Aside from the similarities on the court, it seems every international big man has been compared to Nowitzki heading in.
It’s only natural. Natural to even ramp up the comparison conversation with Porzingis’s New York Knicks ready to host Nowitzki’s Dallas Mavericks at Madison Square Garden on Monday night.
Even the two players in question can’t ignore the constant discussion, via Ian Begley & Tim MacMahon of ESPN New York.
“Every tall European now who comes over and can shoot is going to be compared to me, but he looks like he’s for real,” Nowitzki said. “I mean, he’s just 20 years old. He’s got a lot of ways to go, but the upside this kid has is just tremendous.”
Taking it further, the one-time NBA champion actually says Porzingis is “tougher and longer” than him. Also, that he’s “sneaky athletic.”
For the most part Porzingis likes to wave off any comparisons. Just the fact he’s making a contribution this early in his career is good enough to the 20-year old.
However, when faced with the question prior to this contest, he had these words:
“He’s one of the best of all time,” Porzingis told reporters. “Dirk’s just amazing. I want to be as great as a shooter as he is one day, hopefully.”
“I’m just trying to walk in his footsteps. I would like to be as great as he is,” he said.
The Europeans will face-off for the first time in their careers tonight at 7:30 PM ET.
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