New York Knicks sophomore forward/center Kristaps Porzingis has so far been playing consistently superb basketball this NBA season. So superb in fact that the New York Knicks' fans have been clamoring for Kristaps Porzingis to take over the New York Knicks from All Star Carmelo Anthony. Fans have been calling, especially on social media like Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, for Carmelo Anthony to pass the ball and even the torch to Kristaps Porzingis.
The fans want the offense to run through Kristaps Porzingis instead of Carmelo Anthony. According to Kristaps Porzingis he's well aware of the fan's clamor for him to take over, but he doesn't really pay any attention to all of that.
"I don't really react to it. That's not something I'm worried about," Kristaps Porzingis said. "I read social media and Twitter and all that. But a lot of that is just in and out. And I don't really pay attention to it. It doesn't really matter. All that really matters is win games. And as long as we're winning it's not going to be debate about whose team is it or whatever. So that's the main focus."
So far this season, Kristaps Porzingis has been showing that the New York Knicks fans' assessment is right. That instead of Carmelo Anthony, the offense should run through him.
At 7-foot-3, Kristaps Porzingis can shoot the threes, beat opposing defenders off the dribble, nail a fade away jumper and he's even added a post game. All of these at just 21 years old and only in his second season. The scary part is he's still rapidly improving.
This season, Kristaps Porzingis averages 20.9 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game. Those are All Star numbers. In fact he's on pace to break Willis Reed's record of the youngest All Star in New York Knicks history.
The question now for Carmelo Anthony is that is he willing to relinquish the torch to Kristaps Porzingis. So far, Carmelo Anthony has been saying the right words about Kristaps Porzingis even saying last season that he's willing to pass the torch to Porzingis when the right time comes. But Carmelo Anthony is also quick to counter all that praise by reminding the media that Kristaps Porzingis is still young and "doesn't know the game too much".
Is Camerlo Anthony ready to pass the torch? Based on that last statement, the answer is still no. But based on what we saw last game in a loss against the Oklahoma City Thunder where he shot a horrendous 4-19 and the fans booing everytime he touched the ball, that time may come sooner than he thinks.
