Through the first half of 2018, Kristaps Porzingis was having a breakout NBA season. In just his third year in the league, the kid from Latvia was averaging almost 23 points per game. At 7’3”, with the ability to shoot from the outside, post up smaller defenders, or even take it off the dribble, he was beginning to look like a nearly impossible match-up. This unique combination of skills earned him the nickname “The Unicorn” from Kevin Durant. And then, on the night of February 6th, it all came crashing down. Porzingis tore his left ACL in a game against the Milwaukee Bucks. He would miss the rest of the season.
The injury was severe enough to keep the big man out for the rest of the year; he would also miss the entire 2019 season. Now, as a member of the Dallas Mavericks, Porzingis has returned to action and played impressively thus far. Coming off a solid performance in a win against the Sacramento Kings, it appears that Kristaps Porzingis returned to All-Star form.
All-Star Kristaps Porzingis is Back
Kristap Porzingis’ True Potential
Dallas fans hope that Porzingis has not only returned to All-Star form but that he eventually reaches the level of Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki. Many fans compared Porzingis to Nowitzki when he first showed signs of being a special player. The combination of height, shooting ability, and versatility make the comparison an easy one to understand. However, not every All-Star is of equal value. It remains to be seen if Porzingis can be a true franchise player. Jermaine O’Neal was a skilled big man who was selected to six consecutive All-Star teams. However, no one thought the Indiana Pacers team he led was a legitimate contender to win the NBA title. Will Porzingis be an O’Neal level perennial All-Star? Or will he show the potential to be the centerpiece of a contender?
Luka Doncic‘s Role
“Three 6 Latvia” isn’t the only rising star on the Mavericks’ roster. In his second season, Luka Doncic is arguably one of the top ten players in the league. Porzingis famously hinted that he wanted to play alongside Doncic while he was still a member of the New York Knicks. Mark Cuban, fresh out of the Shark Tank, figured out a way to make that dream a reality. Doncic is putting up historic numbers, but will his game impede the progress of Porzingis’ growth?
Several past young tandems have looked promising before breaking up. Chris Webber won Rookie of the Year while his teammate, Latrell Sprewell, was named First Team All-NBA. Larry Johnson looked like a potential superstar and was joined by eventual Hall of Famer Alonzo Mourning. Kevin Garnett and Stephon Marbury made basketball exciting and relevant in Minneapolis. Shaquille O’Neal and Penny Hardaway reached the NBA Finals in just their third year together. All these tandems were broken up due to some combination of jealousy, problems with the front office, and injuries. Can Porzingis and Doncic avoid this fate? Mavericks fans certainly hope so.
Team Expectations are High
The last time Dallas was in the playoffs was 2016. Earlier this week, the team clinched a playoff spot. They’ll be the seventh seed, which means they’ll face either the Los Angeles Clippers or the Denver Nuggets in the first round. The Clippers have a championship level coach and two superstars, one of which is the reigning Finals MVP. Denver’s center was named First Team All-NBA last season, and their other star, Jamal Murray, was robbed of an All-Star selection this year. Both the Nuggets and the Clippers are for real. Playing against either one of these teams in a seven-game series will be a good lesson for the young Mavericks but a Dallas win is unlikely.
The Mavericks are a Long Way Away from Contention
The Western Conference is loaded. Dallas’ front office is going to have to make some adjustments if they want to eventually reach the Finals. The 2017 and 2018 league MVPs are currently on the same team and they’ve managed to be sixth in the Conference thus far. It takes a lot of fire power to win. Porzingis and Doncic are great building blocks, but the Mavericks need a guy who can relieve the pressure opposing defenses are sure to put on their two stars. As currently constructed, Dallas looks like a perennial first round exit. That’s not what Mavericks fans were hoping for when they landed the promising Porzingis.
With averages of almost twenty points and ten rebounds per game, Kristaps Porzingis is indeed back. He’s shown the toughness to recover from a serious injury, he’s played well enough to help a proud franchise return to the postseason, and he’s only 25 years old. Porzingis and the Mavericks will be worth keeping an eye on for years to come. One thing’s for sure, the future looks bright in Dallas.
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