Kristaps Porzingis is finally free

Breakout seasons, specifically for young players, can happen for a couple of reasons. A player can advance his own game by expanding his skill set, improving his fitness and gaining a stronger mental grasp on the game that comes with more experience. He can also be the beneficiary of a new environment that gives him greater opportunity in a larger role.

Often, the two coalesce, as they have for Kristaps Porzingis. The Latvian came into the league with one of the most tantalizing skill sets of any player in his rookie class, and now has the opportunity to put that on display without constraints. After the Knicks parted with Carmelo Anthony and Phil Jackson this summer, the franchise appears committed to maximizing its future rather than creating delusions of its present.

Porzingis was the victim of tumultuous team circumstances, unstable management and a roster that didn’t entirely make sense around him. He played an inconsistent role on a team that didn’t know what it wanted to be, and vain attempts by the front office at remaining competitive sabotaged his growth.

Read More: OG Anunoby is fitting right in with the Raptors

Now with an eye toward the future, New York has leaned all the way into the power of its Unicorn, who is playing at an MVP level. As Porzingis’ scoring has increased, so too has the Knicks’ dependence on him. Without another lead dog next to him, he’s shouldering more offensive burden than ever and handling it capably. Anthony’s absence is manifesting in Porzingis’ usage and impact numbers; Jackson’s is evident in his confidence and freedom.

It’s Porzingis’ team now, and he knows it. The 22-year-old ranks second in the NBA in scoring and first in usage. His 55.6 effective field goal percentage and 60.7 true shooting percentage are both career-highs. Spikes in efficiency often come with an increase in 3-point shooting, but Porzingis is taking a lower percentage of his shots from deep than ever before. Instead, he’s using those extra shot opportunities to get to the free throw line, attack the rim or cook his man in the post.

The high post has been a brimming wellspring of production for Porzingis, who is shooting over 65 percent from 10-14 feet. No player has scored more points out of the post this season and few bigs are as versatile from that area as Porzingis. He has the turnaround jumper over his left and right shoulders, the soft righty hook and the straight-line bully to the basket. At 7-foot-3, Porzingis simply reaches the ball to a place his defender cannot and flicks it toward the basket.

Teams will double-team Porzingis more often as he becomes an increasingly dangerous threat in the post (most opponents are already sending two at him). That leaves teammates open, and Porzingis picking out shooters along the perimeter will unlock new elements of the Knicks’ offense.

The 3-pointer is still a weapon for Porzingis, who has range that extends well beyond the arc. If opponents come out to take away the triple, Porzingis can put the ball on the deck and go by them. His shooting makes him effective as a screener as well. Porzingis ranks in the 85th percentile as a roll man in part because of his ability to pop beyond the 3-point line. Stick tight to him, and a teammate will dart down the lane. Take away that drive, and Porzingis is firing away.

It’s difficult to judge where Porzingis falls in the NBA Unicorn discussion. He doesn’t have quite the offensive versatility of Karl-Anthony Towns, the shrewd passing instincts of Nikola Jokic or the two-way physical dominance of Joel Embiid. None are as good as Giannis Antetokounmpo is right now. Each serves a different function in a unique ecosystem, and evaluating them in a vacuum is complicated. But Porzingis moves and defends as well as any of his under-24 positional peers and projects as the best shooter of the bunch. This is to say nothing of his already stingy rim protection and natural feel for the game.

Next: Giannis and the pursuit of something new

It’s unclear just how far Porzingis can carry the Knicks this season, even in a thin Eastern Conference. His production dipped after the All-Star break last season, and there’s time enough for New York to fall back into the depths of the conference. This much is clear, though: The Knicks’ future rests in Porzingis’ hands, and he’s finally free to do with it what he likes.