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At 7-foot-3, the NBA world is enthralled with Porzingis' potential: he moves like a small forward, can shoot the three-pointer, but has the length and defensive potential of a shot-altering center.
While he's considered a long-term project and doesn't figure to make a huge impact right away, the Knicks are still hoping he can develop early enough to earn playing time and get some experience his rookie season.
Porzingis has evidently put the same pressure on himself. At the Knicks' instruction, he's gone through an intense offseason training regimen that's helped him put on 11 pounds, and he's apparently working on improving his own athleticism.
At a press conference Friday morning, Knicks GM Steve Mills told reporters that Porzingis has been watching film of Usain Bolt this summer to improve his running form:
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It also sounds as if Porzingis decided to do this by himself:It's interesting that Porzingis is taking this upon himself. Knicks president Phil Jackson made waves during the summer when he told Charley Rosen that he was slightly worried that Porzingis' massive height could be a problem athletically, comparing him to former NBA player Shawn Bradley, a 7-foot-6 big man who didn't live up to expectations. Jackson speculated that Porzingis might be so tall and long that he'll struggle to ever have the proper base strength to handle stouter big men in the NBA. Porzingis rebutted those comments, saying, "I'm not Shawn Bradley."Obviously, strength and speed are two different things, but it's curious that Porzingis would seemingly take it into his own hands to improve his athletic gifts. Bolt is unlike many other sprinters in that he's 6-foot-5. While there's a ten-inch difference between Porzingis and Bolt, Porzingis could learn a thing or two from a tall sprinter.If Knicks coach Derek Fisher is to be believed, Knicks fans should be relieved that Porzingis seems intent on working hard:With NBA training camps beginning next Monday and the preseason around the corner, the NBA world will get its first look at one of the most intriguing rookies in the league.
