National Basketball Association

New York Knicks Exercise Team Option For Kristaps Porzingis

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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In case you had any doubt about the future of Kristaps Porzingis, the New York Knicks exercised his team option for the 2017-18 NBA season.

The New York Knicks are building the future of the organization around 21-year-old power forward Kristaps Porzingis. One could make the case that it’s the first time New York has committed to a long-term development plan since drafting Patrick Ewing in 1985-86.

The journey with Porzingis will continue into and through the 2017-18 NBA season.

Upon being drafted, Porzingis signed a rookie deal. The structure of that contract included two guaranteed seasons, 2015-16 and 2016-17, and team options for the 2017-18 and 2018-19 NBA campaigns.

According to Ian Begley of ESPN New York, the Knicks have exercised Porzingis’ team option for the 2017-18 NBA campaign.

That’s the least surprising news of the year.

Porzingis was feared to have bust potential, but he’s firmly solidified his place as a star on the rise. He produced at a historic rate, showed legitimate signs of dominance on defense, and displayed a full arsenal of offensive skills.

Though it’s impossible where his career will go from here, it would’ve been asinine for the Knicks not to accept another year of having Porzingis on a rookie contract.

Porzingis finished the 2015-16 regular season with averages of 14.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.9 blocks, 0.7 steals, and 1.1 3-point field goals made per game. He tallied 1,028 points, 526 rebounds, 134 blocks, and 81 3-point field goals made in 72 games played.

Porzingis became the first and only rookie in NBA history to record at least 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, 100 blocks, and 75 3-point field goals made.

Porzingis’ averages of 14.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks were all the highest by a Knicks rookie since Ewing in 1985-86. He’s the first Knicks player to hit 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, and 100 blocks in a single season since Amar’e Stoudemire in 2010-11.

Before STAT, it was Ewing in every season from 1986-87 to 1996-97, Bill Cartwright twice, and both Bob McAdoo and Lonnie Shelton in 1977-78.

In other words, there would’ve been no justification for Porzingis not being extended for another season in New York.