National Basketball Association

Carmelo Anthony warns 'there's still a learning curve' for Kristaps Porzingis

Published Nov. 15, 2016 2:55 p.m. ET

Brett Pollakoff

Carmelo Anthony was unsure about the Knicks selecting Kristaps Porzingis with the fourth overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, primarily because Anthony wants to win now at age 32, and he wasn't certain that Porzingis could come in and contribute right away.

But after a stellar rookie season, Anthony and the rest of the Knicks faithful became convinced. That doesn't mean, however, that the 21-year-old will necessarily make the leap in his second year that seemingly everyone is projecting, and Anthony wants to make sure that expectations for the budding young star remain firmly in check.

“There’s still a learning curve for him,” Anthony said, via the New York Post. “Last year, nobody knew what to expect — all new to everybody. This year, he’s going to be a focal point of the scouting report, trying to figure out how to stop him. It’s a matter of being smarter and learning the game more.

“He still doesn’t know the game that much. He’s still a young, second-year player. We put too much pressure on him to kind of be great so fast. I just want him to get the opportunity to grow as a player. He doesn’t know everything right now. He’s just 21, second year in the league.”

None of that is meant as a knock on Porzingis. Anthony is experienced in how the New York media likes to operate, and he simply wants to keep the forecast for what Porzingis might become within reason -- especially in what's going to be the talented big man's second professional season.