Kristaps Porzingis next dirk nowitzki

[NorthernLightning]

Here's KG at 18. He was 217 pounds coming into the NBA at the same age as Porzingis. KG maxed out at 250, but seems to have wider shoulders than Porzingis, who will probably max out around Noah's 240. Always hard to tell at this age. http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/multimedia/photo_gallery/1005/kevin.garnett.rare.photos/images/001344995.jpg

[NorthernLightning]

Joakim Noah was about the same weight as Porzingis is now, but was 3 years older when he measured that 223 lbs at his combine.

Check out this picture of Noah when he was about Porzingis' age: http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/236x/fb/a4/75/fba475cc8ba31c715145b451b91ea17f.jpg

Wow. Cool picture. I really like Porzingis too. I don't think he's going to be the draft's best player, but I think he could grow into a very solid starting C on a contender and make an all-star team or two. I like the pick at #17, depending on what they do at #6.

Or even as a defensive PF like John Henson and Anthony Davis. He's been described as a poor man's AD, but he'll probably be a rich man's John Henson. Probably won't be there at 17.

[NorthernLightning]

John Henson was 216 pounds when he came into the league at age 20-21.

Right now, 5 years older than Porzingis, Henson weighs 220.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjW2lP17tss

[knuckleballer]

John Henson was 216 pounds when he came into the league at age 20-21.

Right now, 5 years older than Porzingis, Henson weighs 220.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjW2lP17tss

I'm sorry, but John Henson is significantly thicker and broader.  This kid might compare to an 18 year old Jujuan Johnson who came to the NBA at 22.

[NorthernLightning]

John Henson is 2 inches shorter, and Porzingis is 18 freaking years old. Try to see into the future. My gosh. At worst he'll be 235 lbs, regardless of whether that's a wiry 235 or a puffier 235.

[Casperian]

I compared him to Joaquim Noah on this thread.  I guess you are hung up on the title of the thread, but are not reading all the posts.  I agree with you that fans tend to categorize and compare players too much based on race.  But since this thread is about a young talented player, why don't you study his video report on Draft Express and then give an opinion. Their reports are pretty balanced, showing you the positives and negatives of players.  No one can know how this kid will turn out, but based on that report, I am extremely intrigued and would be thrilled if we took a chance on him with our 17th pick.

How did you get the idea I was talking about your post? Did I mention Joakim Noah? Of course I was referring to the thread title...and I did watch the video.

Here's a post I made yesterday, maybe that clears things up.

My hope is definitely McDermott at this point. He is like a mini Dirk. He has all the Dirk moves just in a smaller size.

The disrespect for Dirk around here is mind-blowing. Love is a mini Dirk, KO is a mini Dirk, Dougie is a mini Dirk...

Dirk Nowitzki smoked a Dream Team with Jordan, Pippen and co as an 18-year-old. I know because I watched that game. After the game, a german reporter asked Charles Barkley if he thought Dirk would have a chance to make it to the NBA.

Charles, all sweaty, wide-eyed and still visibly stunned by what just happened (I'm paraphrasing): "Are you kidding? Have you seen him play? I will personally make sure he ends up in the NBA!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlz01nBrl4s

Nobody will ever say that about KO or McDermott. They aren't mini Dirks just because they're white. There are literally dimensions between these guys and Nowitzki.

If Porzingis had a snowball's chance in hell to turn into the next Dirk, he'd be projected to go first, not 17th.

[clover]

Looks like he could mature into a Kevin McHale-type body. Too bad he doesn't have any of his post moves, but then again he's almost four years younger than McHale was when McHale was drafted.

[footey]

Looks like he could mature into a Kevin McHale-type body. Too bad he doesn't have any of his post moves, but then again he's almost four years younger than McHale was when McHale was drafted.

Kid is 2" taller and quicker than McHale at that age.  McHale was one of the great post players, this kid has a different game, more of a stretch 4/5.

[footey]

I compared him to Joaquim Noah on this thread.  I guess you are hung up on the title of the thread, but are not reading all the posts.  I agree with you that fans tend to categorize and compare players too much based on race.  But since this thread is about a young talented player, why don't you study his video report on Draft Express and then give an opinion. Their reports are pretty balanced, showing you the positives and negatives of players.  No one can know how this kid will turn out, but based on that report, I am extremely intrigued and would be thrilled if we took a chance on him with our 17th pick.

How did you get the idea I was talking about your post? Did I mention Joakim Noah? Of course I was referring to the thread title...and I did watch the video.

Here's a post I made yesterday, maybe that clears things up.

My hope is definitely McDermott at this point. He is like a mini Dirk. He has all the Dirk moves just in a smaller size.

The disrespect for Dirk around here is mind-blowing. Love is a mini Dirk, KO is a mini Dirk, Dougie is a mini Dirk...

Dirk Nowitzki smoked a Dream Team with Jordan, Pippen and co as an 18-year-old. I know because I watched that game. After the game, a german reporter asked Charles Barkley if he thought Dirk would have a chance to make it to the NBA.

Charles, all sweaty, wide-eyed and still visibly stunned by what just happened (I'm paraphrasing): "Are you kidding? Have you seen him play? I will personally make sure he ends up in the NBA!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlz01nBrl4s

Nobody will ever say that about KO or McDermott. They aren't mini Dirks just because they're white. There are literally dimensions between these guys and Nowitzki.

If Porzingis had a snowball's chance in hell to turn into the next Dirk, he'd be projected to go first, not 17th.

Dirk Nowitzki went 9th in the draft.  GMs misread or undervalue young players all the time.
LeBron, Kobe, etc. were all saying the same thing about Rick Rubio a few years ago. after facing him in a game.  They were right about Dirk.  They were wrong about Rubio.
I don't think Porzingis is going to be the next Dirk.  I also recognize there is a lot of risk drafting a kid this young.  But in our situation, I would favor taking the risk on this kid with the 17th pick.  Unless another player slides down there that can't be refused, I would take a chance.  There are things this kid will probably never be able to do as well as Dirk, like shoot the ball.  But he has shown more athleticism than Dirk at the same age.

[footey]

I definitely wouldn't call him the next Dirk, but he could be a Joakim Noah like somebody else said, which is to say a poor man's KG.

Funny, NL, I watched some more video of this kid today, and he actually projects to have a game similar to KG, as you suggested.  Not Dirk or Noah.  Of course the chances of his achieving that level are nil, but it is the prototype he best fits.  I hope Danny gets him draft day.  Love his future.

[celticmania]

If drafted, would he come straight to the NBA or would he stay overseas ?

[pokeKingCurtis]

Durant was 215 pounds, couldn't do one bench press, and had a max vert of 33.5", and his standing vert was 26". Durant's standing vert was 1.5 inches higher than Kelly Olynyk's. With strength and training, Durant got much more athletic.

But one's a SF, the other's a big.

[mgent]

I think my mom will be the next Dirk Nowitzki.

She's a bit undersized, but she's white, european, white, and can be highly offensive if she wants to.

What is your point?

That every white guy that can shoot will be compared to Dirk/Bird no matter what. Kind of like how every white guy that raps gets compared to Eminem. And if there is another Asian-American that makes it in the NBA, he will undoubtedly get Jeremy Lin comparisons.

I hope this ignorance never changes.  Being called Bird is one of my favorite parts of playing basketball.

[nickagneta]

Can't wait for the draft to get over so all these unfair comparisons being heaped upon these young kids will start to go away. I seriously doubt most of these kids realize one tenth of the expectations people are throwing in their direction.

The next Dirk.
The next Carmelo
The next Olajuwan
The next McGrady
The next Penny
The next Bird.
The next Wade.

Enough already. If we get one or two players out of this draft that are all-stars, then fans should be thrilled. If one  player becomes the franchise cornerstone the above players were then we as fans should be more than thrilled. Expecting much beyond that is unrealistic, IMHO.

[jambr380]

Can't wait for the draft to get over so all these unfair comparisons being heaped upon these young kids will start to go away. I seriously doubt most of these kids realize one tenth of the expectations people are throwing in their direction.

The next Dirk.
The next Carmelo
The next Olajuwan
The next McGrady
The next Penny
The next Bird.
The next Wade.

Enough already. If we get one or two players out of this draft that are all-stars, then fans should be thrilled. If one  player becomes the franchise cornerstone the above players were then we as fans should be more than thrilled. Expecting much beyond that is unrealistic, IMHO.

I know that these guys are on another level, but I would also like to throw out:

The next Bosh
The next Griffin
The next Cousins

I am sure there are more, but man, these poor guys have no chance with these types of expectations.