Kristaps Porzingis has often garnered comparisons to another rangy European big man in Dirk Nowitzki, following his footsteps as a seven-footer that has become an all-around threat from the perimeter and inequitable talent at the power forward position, where Nowitzki has done all his damage through an illustrious career.

But despite the two having worked together for the first time this summer, the German doesn't think he's taught the New York Knicks' unicorn anything during their offseason sessions.

“I really don’t think I taught him anything,” Nowitzki said in an email through the Dallas Mavericks, according to Al Iannazzone of Newsday. “We just shot around, did shooting competitions and worked out together. He’s a great dude.”

Yet the Latvian international managed to pick Nowitzki's brain through their time together during the NBA Africa Game 2017 in Johannesburg, South Africa, played over the summer after the NBA Finals.

Article Continues Below

“We had a couple of days together and I asked as many questions as I could,” he said. “I tried to get as much information as I could from him in our couple of workouts together.”

The Mavs lifer offered one last bit of praise, perhaps the most important for the third-year forward, who has managed to be second in the scoring title race with 30.4 points per game.

“He works extremely hard,” Nowitzki said. “He is so long and his arms are so long. He can shoot from deep easily and can move. He is the real deal.”