New York Knicks star Kristaps Porzingis talked to ESPN the Magazine about his first trip to Disneyland and cartoon childhood memories.
It’s a small world for New York Knicks star Kristaps Porzingis after all. He went to Disneyland in Anaheim, California recently on an off-day between games with the Los Angeles Lakers and the Sacramento Kings.
Porzingis rode some rides (the ones that he wasn’t too tall for) and did some shopping. KP wanted to go to Disneyland since he was a kid.
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Porzingis told ESPN’s Sam Alipour that watching cartoons in his native Latvia is why he was so interested in seeing the theme park.
“It started with cartoons. My first memory is — how do you call it, Mickey Mouse? I was in Latvia when I saw Mickey on TV. And oh, Winnie the Pooh! That’s my guy. You want to see them in real life. That’s why it’s a dream for kids to come here. “
When asked what it’s like to be the most famous Knick and being in New York City Porzingis, who was recently named the Latvian athlete of the Year, said that he doesn’t “understand what’s going on around [him].”
That’s why he likes having family around, so he doesn’t “fly away.”
Porzingis has high expectations for himself, the same as the fans do for him. When asked what he needs to work on he had a few different areas on his mind.
Everything, starting with my post game, getting stronger and defense. Offensively, I need to keep working on my ball-handling and shooting. My 3-point average dropped a little bit – it might be at 37-38% now. I should be around 40%.
Porzingis isn’t putting limitations on himself. He told Alipour his “ultimate goal is to win a championship ring” but that he also has an incredible individual goal in mind. “a quadruple-double in a game — points, rebounds, assists, blocks,” in mind.
“A quadruple-double in a game — points, rebounds, assists, blocks.”
Only four players in history have pulled off that incredible feat. The last to do it was David Robinson in 1994. Even for Porzingis, that might be aiming a little too high.
The Unicorn is averaging 20.0 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks this season.
Porzingis and the Knicks begin their three-game road trip in Atlanta against the Hawks on Wednesday, Dec. 28 at 7:30 p.m.