Did the New York Knicks make the best pick of the 2015 NBA Draft when they selected Kristaps Porzingis at No. 4 overall? James Worthy certainly thinks so.
Worthy, a Hall of Famer who won three championships with the Los Angeles Lakers during his 13-year career, had some incredibly high praise for Porzingis during the Knicks’ Summer League game against the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday.
“He’s a freak of nature. He’s a combination of Dirk Nowitzki and Kevin Durant,” Worthy said, per Marc Berman of the New York Post. “It’s a good pick for the Knicks.”
Nowtizki and Durant are pretty much locks for the Hall of Fame, in case you didn’t know. Porzingis is 19 years old.
Porzingis showcased his athleticism in his Knicks debut, scoring 12 points in 18 minutes and blocking two shots. The Latvian also used his 6-foot-11 frame to draw a few fouls and made 6-of-7 free throws. He’s a raw talent who could be a very good player in the NBA in a few years, but comparing him to Durant and Nowitzki is extremely premature.
Ironically enough, Carmelo Anthony has given mixed signals regarding how he feels about his team’s first-round pick. Worthy, the same guy who tried to lure Anthony to L.A. a few years ago with a very unique pitch, obviously thinks Carmelo should be thrilled. If Porzingis becomes even 80 percent of the player that Dirk and Durant are, the pick will be a home run.
