New York Knicks

Kristaps Porzingis is woking on his post-up game

Published Nov. 17, 2015 12:55 p.m. ET

foxsports

Kristaps Porzingis has proven to be a jump shooter through his first 11 NBA games, but he's trying to expand his talents to other parts of the court.

From Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News:

One of the most important parts of posting up is establishing post position before the actual entry pass. For now, 'Staps is getting pushed around a bit when he tries to set up. It must be that lack of a big bottom that Phil Jackson confidant Charley Rosen so prominently called for in a Knicks draft pick late last season.

Still, Porzingis is only 20 years old, and most kids his age are yet to refine their skills enough to develop a competent game on the low block. Plus, even the rookies who the general public claims are "NBA-ready" struggle most establishing pre-pass post position. That he's working toward it is a positive sign.

For whatever reason — and it’s safe to presume his lack of strength is a factor — backdowns aren’t Porzingis’ preferred style. But he’s trying to change that and is hoping for an opportunity to add what’s a staple in the repertoires of his two favorable comparisons — Dirk Nowitzki and Pau Gasol.

“That’s one of the things I’m working on. I want to play more in the post,” he said. “I’ve been adding some moves, adding some stuff to my post game. So the more comfortable I get, the more my teammates trust me and pass me the ball in the post and let me go to work then we’ll see.”

The post-up hook against Love was a “basic move” practiced over the summer with his brother, Porzingis said, and something “you’ve got to build on.”