Despite his 7-foot-3 size, Dallas mavericks big man has been known as a power forward rather than a center throughout his NBA career. However, with the season-ending injury to Mavericks starting center Dwight Powell in January, Dallas has been playing the Latvian power forward at the five more and more — something Porzingis is more than down with.
“When I’m at the (power forward position) I only have the option to pop, and when I’m at the (center position) I can pick-and-pop and roll,” the fourth-year veteran said. “So I can mix it up and just be more involved,” Porzingis said per Dwain Price of Mavs.com.
While his extraordinary length is undeniable, coming into the league at 230 pounds and excellent ball-handling skills and a strong three-point shot, Porzingis was definitely pigeonholed as an ideal stretch four in today's modern era.
However, Porzingis has bulked up since entering the league and due to Dallas' injuries, the 24-year-old has been asked to change his style of play.
“I’m trailing all the time now as the big guy,” he said. “I’m not just running down and staying in the corner, or on the perimeter waiting for something to happen,” he said. ” … “So it’s much better like this. I like playing this way much better. That’s what I’m more used to.”
This season, Porzingis is averaging 18.7 points, a career-high 9.2 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game while shooting 42 percent from the field and 35.1 percent from deep.
In eight games in the month of February however, the Unicorn is putting up an efficient 25.4 points and 10.3 rebounds per game
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