National Basketball Association

New York Knicks: Kristaps Porzingis Using NBA 2K Rating As Motivation

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

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New York Knicks power forward Kristaps Porzingis is entering his second NBA season. He’s using his NBA 2K17 Rating as motivation to improve.

Kristaps Porzingis has won over jaded New York Knicks fans in just one season. The rest of the NBA has begun to follow suit, as praise has become far more present than criticism for the 21-year-old from Latvia.

Though his rating of 80 in the NBA 2K17 video game franchise was fair, it’s nowhere near the standard Porzingis has set for himself.

It’s a different day and age in both the NBA and the world. Video game ratings are valued as a barometer for success and status, and players often take them to heart.

In an article that he published to The Player’s Tribune, Porzingis stated that he’s using his NBA 2K rating as motivation to improve.

I’m ready to show more in year two. I am only 80 overall in NBA 2K, so I need to improve.

An 80 is nothing to scoff at, but Porzingis’ ceiling is that of a 90-plus.

Knicks head coach Jeff Hornacek recently said what many fans have been thinking: Porzingis can be the best player in the world. It was more of a question than a statement—why can’t he be?—but the point stood as valid.

Porzingis is a 7’3″ power forward with a 37.5″ max vertical leap, 3-point range, a bevy of post moves, solid handles, and tremendous instincts as a shot-blocker.

Having said that, it’s certainly understandable for the folks over at 2K Sports to be cautious with his rating. He only has one season of NBA experience and he still hasn’t put it all together on either end of the floor.

The fact that Porzingis is motivated to prove that he’s better than his rating is simply too promising to ignore.

If he continues down his current path, then a ranking in the 90s won’t be too far away.