Kristaps Porzingis exacts maximum vengeance on fan who cried when Knicks drafted him
Like many New York Knicks draft picks before him, Kristaps Porzingis experienced something of a rude introduction to the Big Apple, as many fans in attendance at Barclays Center for the 2015 NBA draft responded to his selection with the No. 4 overall pick by booing. No ‘Bocker backer, though, looked as distraught as this young man, who seemed positively apoplectic at Phil Jackson choosing a 7-foot-3 teenager from Latvia as the Knicks’ new standard-bearer:
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That young fan was soon able to dry his tears, though. Porzingis proved to be a real player in his rookie season. The big man earned his spot in New York’s starting lineup, averaging 14.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.9 blocks and 1.3 assists in 28.4 minutes per game. He led New York in plus-minus on the season, and the Knicks were nearly 5.5 points per 100 possessions better with him on the floor than off it during his first campaign, all of which helped him earn a second-place finish in Rookie of the Year voting … and, as it turns out, the love of that young fan, who quickly moved from rending his garments over KP’s selection to rocking new ones bearing Porzingis’ name and number.
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But while Porzingis is a gentle giant who was willing to invite that young fan, whose name is Jordan, to a Knicks game last season, he’s evidently not one given to forgiveness of all slights. Check out this clip of Porzingis going one-on-one with his one-time tormentor at his basketball camp in New York, during which the rising sophomore showed no mercy to Jordan on defense or offense:
Dream of a lifetime playing against my idol @kporzee
A video posted by Jordan The Crying Knicks Fan (@cryingknicksfan) on Sep 18, 2016 at 9:21am PDT
It’s just like my grandmother used to say: revenge is a dish best served cold, and with a heaping helping of bone-crunching blocks and rim-rattling slam jams.
Grandma was kind of weird.
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Dan Devine is an editor for Ball Don’t Lie on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at devine@yahoo-inc.com or follow him on Twitter!
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