New York Knicks: Kristaps Porzingis’ case for Most Improved Player

Despite a disappointing finish in Phoenix, things are still looking up for the New York Knicks, especially so for Kristaps Porzingis.

They sit at 14-11, good for fourth place in the East. They have shown tremendous progression under Jeff Hornacek. They have several quality wins under their belt. They were able to weather an early storm, recover from a slow start, and are now playing very good basketball.

Perhaps the biggest reason for the Knicks and their fans to be happy is the continued development of forward Kristaps Porzingis. The Latvian phenomenon, who finished second in the Rookie of the Year voting last season, has made great strides this season, and looks to be a future All-Star for years to come.

Porzingis’ stats have risen considerably across the board from a year ago, and the 7-foot-3 big man has shown no signs of the famed sophomore slump.

Kristaps Porzingis’ fantastic start to the season has many fans and pundits alike wondering if he has taken the reigns as the go-to player in New York, ahead of All-Star forward Carmelo Anthony. While that might be a little premature, Porzingis fast start definitely should have him in the running for Most Improved Player.

Let’s take a look at his statistics and impact across the board, and see just how much of a jump the Knicks future of the franchise has taken.

Shooting

Kristaps Porzingis shooting percentages are up in pretty much every category– the only number that has seen a decline is his free throw percentage, which has dipped from 83.8% to 78.2%. Otherwise, it has all improved.

Here are Porzingis’ shooting statistics from his rookie season:
Field Goal Percentage: 42.1%
Three Point Percentage: 33.3%
Effective Field Goal Percentage (Takes into account that three point field goals are one point more than two point field goals): 46.7%
True Shooting Percentage (Includes 2 pointers, 3 pointers, and free throws): 51.8%

And now, his shooting statistics from this season:
Field Goal Percentage: 45.6%
Three Point Percentage: 38.3%
Effective Field Goal Percentage: 52.5%
True Shooting Percentage: 56.0%

All four percentages have increased by several points. This is particularly impressive due to the fact that Porzingis has been shooting the ball much more frequently. He is attempting 16.0 field goals a game, compared to 12.3 last season. He is attempting 5.6 threes a game, up from last years 3.4 threes a game. Last year, 27.4% of Porzingis’ field goal attempts were from beyond the arc. This year, that number has risen to 34.6%.

So, across the board, Porzingis has shot the ball much more frequently than last season, and despite this, all of his percentages but one have gone up. And, despite his free throw percentage dipping, KP is still getting to the line 4.2 times a game, which is higher than the 3.3 times per game he visited the charity stripe last season. It’s worth noting that shooting free throws at a 78.2% clip is very impressive for a guy who is over 7 feet tall.

Increased Statistical Output

Porzingis is playing more minutes this season–34.2 compared to 28.4–so it makes sense that all of his per game stats have increased. However, it is still worth noting that his points, rebounds, and assists per game have all increased. He is averaging 20 points, 7.7 boards, and 1.4 assists this season, compared to last years 14.3-7.3-1.3 clip.

KP has also cut his turnovers slightly, from 1.7 a year ago to 1.5 this year. As a result, his assists to turnover ratio has gone from 0.78 to 0.94. He averages .1 more turnovers than assists, which is solid, again, considering his size and the position he plays.

Advanced Metrics and Usage

One of the most significant statistics used to evaluate NBA players is PER, or Player Efficiency Rating. In the NBA, efficiency is incredibly important, and the players with the best PER are typically the best in the league. This season, the top five players in PER are Anthony Davis, Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant, Chris Paul, and James Harden (it isn’t a coincidence that all five of those players have a legitimate claim to the MVP award).

Porzingis PER has increased from 17.7 to 19.4, which has put him in the Top 50 in the NBA. His offensive rating has increased, from 103.9 to 106.3, and his defensive rating has gone from 104.1 to 107.4. Additionally, his point output compared to the team has increased: KP is scoring 25.7% of the entire Knicks rosters’ 2 point field goals, and 32.1% of their three point field goals.

Perhaps the most impressive statistic is that his usage has stayed the exact same. While KP has been shooting more, he still accounts for 24.5% of the Knicks offense, the same clip as last year. Essentially, he is doing more this year with the same amount of usage last year, which is impressive considering the Knicks brought in guys like Derrick Rose, Courtney Lee, and Brandon Jennings this offseason, players who inevitably are going to get lots of touches and shots each game.

Confidence

Statistics cannot quantify the confidence and swagger KP is playing with. He has been crossing over defenders, taking step back jumpers, and creating his own shot far more than he did last season. During his rookie campaign, a lot of Porzingis’ shots were catch and shoot opportunities from behind the arc, or putback dunks, with the occasional post move. This season, it is clear that the Latvian has expanded his offensive arsenal, and his making highlight plays with his dribble moves, his drives to the basket, and his silky smooth midrange game.

Additionally, he has been putting up monster stat lines this season that he couldn’t have mustered last year.

He has also been putting in work on the defensive end, as exemplified by his staggering seven block performance against the Lakers on the road.

The best part is, KP has remained a humble student of the game throughout his meteoric rise. He is not arrogant, or cocky, but rather a hard-worker whose only focus is making himself and the team better.

Based on statistics, confidence, swagger, and results, it would be foolish to leave Kristaps Porzingis out of the early discussion for the NBA’s Most Improved Player.