New York Knicks

Kristaps Porzingis still might start for the Knicks

Published Oct. 5, 2015 1:41 p.m. ET

foxsports

Kristaps Porzingis wasn't supposed to be "NBA ready" when the Knicks drafted him back in June. Even his biggest supporters wouldn't have described him as such. But after gaining weight over the summer, performing well in summer league and continuing that fine play into the Knicks' initial practices, New York still isn't ruling out throwing him into the starting lineup.

Here's more from Frank Isola of the New York Daily News:

If the Knicks don't think they're going to be competitive, throwing KP in with the starters could give him some valuable experience. If he ends up actually being the worthy starter at 20 years old, it means the Knicks possibly found themselves a gem.

While Kristaps Porzingis is confident in his ability to say “I belong here,” in the NBA it will be up to Derek Fisher to determine if the Knick rookie belongs in the starting lineup.

Fisher isn’t ruling out Porzingis as a starter, but a lot depends on whether Fisher elects to use Carmelo Anthony at power forward. Also, veterans Derrick Williams and Kyle O’Quinn are under consideration.