Kristaps Porzingis was still incapable of growing facial hair. He was skinny, joyful, brash, innocent, unlimited in possibilities and potential. You may have forgotten this version.
For two solid years, Porizingis was the greatest reason to believe the Knicks would finally emerge from their ugly descent into losing and dysfunction.
They went from 65 losses to drafting Porzingis to a .500 record through his first 40 games. He was running neck-and-neck for Rookie of the Year with, coincidentally, Karl-Anthony Towns, who will tip off against Porzingis on Monday in Game 1.
There had never previously been a player that tall with Porzingis’ combination of shooting and mobility. Now we have Chet Holmgren and Victor Wembanyama. Back then, as Kevin Durant stated before facing Porzingis for the first time, “That’s like a unicorn.”
