The New York Knicks have been awful for the better part of 15 years. There has been a parade of sadness, with James Dolan out front, twirling the baton. The fans have been forced to march in lockstep with little hope of a reprieve, knowing the worst had yet to be seen.
In April, it seemed New York’s luck was changing. It was terrible, yes, but the best kind of terrible. The Knicks were destined for the worst record in the NBA and oddly enough, had their first-round pick. The draft was to be loaded with Jahlil Okafor, D’Angelo Russell and Karl-Anthony Towns. Then, another cruel twist of the baton. New York won two games in the final week and finished behind the Minnesota Timberwolves. In the lottery, the Knicks somehow fell to fourth in the draft order, something that even the most cynical fan could not believe.
In the NBA Draft, everything went according to plan. Minnesota, the Philadelphia 76ers and Los Angeles Lakers took Towns, Okafor and Russell, respectively. In the fourth slot, Knicks team president Phil Jackson took a lanky Latvian named Kristaps Porznigis. The draft was held in New York City. Porzingis was lustily booed.
Incredibly, the lottery’s apparent misfortune might turn out to be the saving grace New York has been searching for. Porzinigis is the runaway favorite for Rookie of the Year, showcasing an incredible blend of passion, athleticism and aggression.
On Monday, with Patrick Ewing in the Garden, the 7-foot-3 wonderkid scored 29 points and posted 11 rebounds in a win over the Charlotte Hornets. His night included this homage to Hakeem Olajuwon. Per Deadspin:
The crowd chanted POR-ZIN-GIS. The crowd chanted MVP. The Knicks are 6-6. It doesn’t matter.
The rookie is averaging 12.8 points and 8.6 rebounds per game, but his impact goes well beyond the statistics. Porzingis is reviving what has long been a fan base desperate to cheer, but with nothing to inspire them. Porzingis is not burdened by the history, only buoyed by the thought of what could be instead of what has been.
In 12 games, Porzingis has notched five double-doubles and scored in double figures in each game sans one. For once, the Knicks are an exciting team that is worth putting on national television. Better yet, they are a team bringing basketball back to life in the Mecca of basketball.
In June, Porzingis was the door prize for a team in dire need of a grand one. Suddenly, it appears New York hit the jackpot.