New York Knicks big man Kristaps Porzingis skipped the season’s exit meetings because he is frustrated with how the team is progressing.
The Knicks, a team renowned for having one of the largest budgets in the NBA missed the Playoffs for the fourth straight season and already there have been whispers that the team’s marquee player Carmelo Anthony will be let go.
Porzingis then “liked’’ Anthony’s Instagram response to Jackson’s press conference, a post of a picture of Leonardo DiCaprio in “The Great Gatsby” with the word “really” under it.
On Wednesday, when the Knicks finished their season with a 31-51 record, Porzingis didn’t sound like he wanted to hear the term “rebuilding’’ as it has been a phrase constantly used by the franchise over the last couple of years.
Via ESPN:
If the Knicks trade Anthony, the assumption is that Porzingis would be the face of the franchise and the focal point of the offense. Jackson was asked whether he thought Porzingis was ready for that kind of responsibility.
“No, I don’t [think he’s ready]. He’s 21 years old. That’s a big load for anybody to take on,” Jackson said. “But he’s shown that he’s competitive. He’s shown that he’s competitive. He’s shown that he’s got a sense of desire to win, etc. So we’re really pleased with how he’s developed. I think he had some concern this year about physicality, not being able to stand up to all the games physically with his Achilles tendon, back, etc.”
