With the fourth pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, the New York Knicks select Kristaps Porzingis. The 7-foot-2 forward from Latvia is explosive, athletic and offensively skilled. He can attack the rim and also stretch the floor. However, he’s quite frail. But Knicks fans fear not — he’s only 19 years old.
After the Los Angeles Lakers selected D’Angelo Russell with the No. 2 pick, and the Philadelphia 76ers selected Jahlil Okafor with the No. 3 pick, the bright lights shined on Phil Jackson as his decision would not be an easy one. If No. 1 pick Karl-Anthony Towns, Russell or Okafor fell beyond the top 3 picks, Jackson would have been granted a fairly easy selection. Instead, the anticipation grew as the NBA world waited to see if Jackson would select Emmanual Mudiay, Justise Winslow or perhaps trade the pick.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announced the Knicks’ selection of Porzingis to a chorus of boos. The many Knicks fans in attendance in Brooklyn made it clear that they did not like Jackson’s pick.
To those fans, I advise you to watch this video:
The video shows Porzingis’ variety of offensive skills. However, it’s fair for Knicks fans to be concerned about his defense. Being so skinny, it’s hard to imagine him defending strong forwards from around the NBA. Being 19, he could absolutely become a good defender, but it doesn’t appear, on size alone, that he will be an overly-effective low-post defender right away.
As ESPN‘s Fran Fraschilla noted after the Knicks picked, Jackson went for a homerun pick in Porzingis. Many like his upside, and since the Knicks’ top choices had been taken, Jackson took a big swing. Porzingis’ offensive game is special, and alongside Carmelo Anthony, the Madison Square Garden crowds could be in a for a treat.
Patrick Piascik is an NBA Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter at @patrickpiascik.