Despite already missing out on the playoffs for the fourth straight season, New York Knicks big man Kristaps Porzingis still wants to play in their remaining game.

It may seem like the wrong move for him to do so as he is still suffering from a sore Achilles heel, but the 7-foot-3 Latvian international understands the importance of finishing the campaign, which he failed to accomplish last year. He admitted, via Marc Berman of the New York Post, that he has not been able to play the same way after the injury. However, he added that the tough situation the Knicks had this season has helped him grow as a person.

“I didn’t finish the season last year, so I want to at least finish these last couple of games. It’s not smart to force it now. You have to be smart about it. But I would like to play.”

“Until I got hurt with the Achilles, I was playing a very high level, very consistently, every night, but still we weren’t playing at the level that we wanted to as a team, so that didn’t really do anything for me, but I liked the consistency. I was out there playing at a high level. Then the injuries, little things [that] happened got me out of my rhythm. Then it was kind of on and off, some games good, some games not so good. I was trying to find that rhythm for a long time. Then the second part of the season, it was just a big fight for us and mentally tough. I think I grew from this season.”

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Porzingis then shared what specific aspects of his game he plans to work on this summer to help him become a better player.

“Getting stronger — that’s going to be a major key for me, and staying low — offensively and defensively. It’s going to be leg strength. Driving to the hoop is going to be big for me. I’m going to work so hard this summer. It’s going to be a huge summer for me.”

This is definitely good news for the New York faithful as the 21-year-old is showing a lot of signs of being determined to improve, and play a huge role for their team in the future. With all the trade rumors surrounding Carmelo Anthony, Porzingis will need to prepare himself as well in playing a bigger role for the Knicks as he may become their franchise player, should the 10-time All-Star ultimately decide to move out of his hometown.