Despite no longer being a member of the New York Knicks, All-Star forward Carmelo Anthony has maintained a strong bond with third-year forward Kristaps Porzingis.
Following the season opener win against his former team on Thursday night, Anthony offered a clear message of advice toward the 22-year-old, according to Al Iannazzone of Newsday.
“You’re there. You’re the unicorn. You’ve got to embrace it,” Anthony said. “You’ve got to understand what it’s about, what’s going to happen, whether good or bad, and be ready for it.”
With Anthony's departure, it has given Porzingis the reigns to step in as the new face of the franchise for the Knicks moving forward. It is a tremendous responsibility, but he has shown to have a unique skill set and ability on the court to be a transformative player to help bring the organization back to relevancy in the league.
In his first official action in that role, Porzingis put up a huge individual performance as he had a double-double with a game-high 31 points along with 12 rebounds and also recorded a block on a layup by Anthony. This is a new responsibility that he voiced that he's more than ready to take on.
Porzingis, 22, said he’s ready for the challenge of filling Anthony’s shoes. “I never doubt myself,” he said. “I never feel like I’m not ready for something, even if it’s the most difficult challenge in my life . . . I’m never too afraid of a situation.
“I’m here now. I had a great experience watching Melo, how he does stuff on and off the court. I think that’s what I’m going to use to go forward.”
Ultimately, Porzingis is now in the position to take a significant leap in his career to not only make a huge progression in his individual game but also establish himself as the franchise cornerstone player in New York.
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