New York Knicks rookie RJ Barrett endeared himself to his team's fans by bringing up former franchise cornerstone Kristaps Porzingis as the target for one of his ferocious slams next season. But to NBA Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen, this isn't as impressive as it sounds at all.
Speaking with his fellow The Jump crew, Pippen argued that Barrett should set his goals higher and aim for a more prolific player.
“Porzingis doesn't really have a resume as being a shotblocker or anything like that. Plus, he's a little injured right now. He may not even play next season. I'd like to see him go after someone like Gobert or Giannis. Go after the MVP or the Defensive Player of the Year.”
These observations are a little off for the Chicago Bulls great considering that the “Unicorn” actually holds a career average of two blocks per outing, including a career-high of seven swats which he achieved thrice. He is also set to make his return next season and has been ready for a while now with the Dallas Mavericks opting to just sit him out to improve his physical makeup and ensure he stands to the rigors of a full 82-game schedule.
Barrett's decision to name drop the Latvian is also a tongue-in-cheek comment intended largely to resonate with Knicks fans that didn't appreciate how Porzingis handled his eventual departure. The Duke combo guard will likely throw it down on anyone that dare meets him at the rim although adding a Defensive Player of the Year winner and the reigning Most Valuable Player to his list of victims surely would earn him some praise and a spot at the nightly and year-end highlights.