You seldom read about Knicks top draft pick Kristaps Porzingis without the mention that the 7-foot-3 inch Latvian is skinny. But is he? Porzingis was listed at 233 pounds on draft day, and the NY Post reports he’s already gained 11 pounds (or five kilos, to his native way of thinking.) That makes Porzingis a 244 pound man. For a 20-year-old who’s still growing into his body, that’s not really skinny.
[Kristaps Porzingis ‘Freaks’ Out, Draws Durant Comparison]
How about some comparisons? Dirk Nowitzki, former NBA MVP, is 7-feet and weighs 245 pounds in his maturity. Hakeem Olajuwon, another 7-footer with MVP pedigree weighed 250 pounds. Yao Ming weighed 310 pounds, but he had 3 inches on Porzingis at 7-foot-6 — and Yao did not roam outside and shoot the 3-ball like Porzingis. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, six-time NBA MVP, stood 7’2″ and weighed 230 pounds. Every player is different. Perhaps the best big forward in history is that guy down in San Antonio named Tim Duncan. Standing 6’11” or 7-feet — depending on who you ask — Duncan plays at 250 pounds or less — right in the Porzingis wheelhouse. And one more thing, as Columbo said, Knicks all-time leading scorer Patrick Ewing? 7-feet, 240 pounds. Porzingis may need to get stronger, but he’s a big, broad shouldered man.
