National Basketball Association

New York Knicks: Kristaps Porzingis Loves Joakim Noah's Intensity

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

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It took one conversation for Kristaps Porzingis to fall in love with the unparalleled intensity of recently acquired New York Knicks center Joakim Noah.

If you polled the players who have played alongside Joakim Noah, a vast majority would have positive things to say. He’s a vocal leader who goes to war for his teammates and is willing to put his body on the line to help or protect them.

Without even playing a game alongside him, New York Knicks phenom Kristaps Porzingis is already in love with Noah’s intensity.

Porzingis and Noah will start alongside one another at power forward and center. Both are capable of providing an elite defensive edge, but that will only transpire if both men play with passion and tenacity.

According to Ian Begley of ESPN New York, Porzingis fell in love with Noah’s intensity after just one conversation

“The first conversation we had, I was in the training room. He came in with his shirt off, and I was like, ‘Oh man, you’ve been working out.’…. And we kept on talking, and he just got so intense, like he really feels it. He was like, ‘Yeah, man, this is a big opportunity; we’ve got to give it our all.’”

“That’s the type of guy that we want on our team,” Porzingis said of Noah. “He brings that good energy. He brings that spirit, you know? So from the first opportunity that we got to talk, I fell in love with [his intensity].”

it’s safe to assume that a vast majority of Noah’s teammates, past and present, feels the same.

Noah has been pegged by even the most cynical of analysts as a player in line for a bounce-back season in 2016-17. He wasn’t compatible with head coach Fred Hoiberg, who seemed to prefer Pau Gasol, Taj Gibson, and Nikola Mirotic.

It was as recent as 2013-14, however, that Noah won Defensive Player of the Year and made the All-NBA First Team.

Noah’s defensive prowess and relentless motor on the court will make him a fan favorite in New York. He’s a throwback to the teams of the 1970s and 1990s—teams that Phil Jackson either played for or coached against.

Thus, it comes as no surprise that Jackson targeted Noah, whom he also has a personal relationship with, in free agency.

Noah signed a four-year contract, which means he and Porzingis will form the starting interior for the foreseeable future. Porzingis’ versatility as a scorer and Noah’s uncanny ability to facilitate should help form a productive offensive duo.

It’s on defense, however, that the 7’3″ Porzingis and the tenacious Noah have the potential to anchor the Knicks’ return to prominence.

Knicks fans are going to love Noah. Porzingis already does.