Kristaps Porzingis has been compared to Patrick Ewing ad nauseum since being drafted No. 4 overall, but he now has something in common with Kevin Durant thanks to Phil Jackson.
The Latvian international went by the nickname "Zinger" last season in Spain. No one with half a brain was willing to continue the trend stateside. No one with half a brain was willing to call him "Rook," either, but that didn't stop Carmelo Anthony from trying.
Kristaps Porzingis Is Breaking The Carmelo Anthony, Patrick Ewing Mold
Fortunately for Porzingis, Jackson kept it simple and clean.
Welcome to the NBA, KP.
Kristaps Porzingis A Better Fit For LeBron James Than Kevin Love
"I think once you establish that name Rook, it sticks with you,'' Anthony said before the Knicks' win over the Thunder, per New York Post. "I know even when I see Kenyon Martin, wherever I'm at, he always calls me Rook.
"It didn't really stick, but KP is going to stick."
Unfortunately for Porzingis, the nickname KP -- which is resoundingly similar to Kevin Durant's "KD" -- is as close as he'll get to being the next Durant on the court.
Porzingis didn't do much bc he got bodied up by OKC bigs Bulk up kid and learn positioning for defensive rebound #StillLearning #ROY
— MR NYK (@MRNYKALLDAY) November 21, 2015
The rookie was far from productive in the Knicks' 93-90 victory over the Thunder on Friday, finishing with just seven points on 2-of-5 shooting and six rebounds.
But don't expect that to be enough to deter KP. His confidence, hype and projected career have all been justified and will continue to be so throughout the season.
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How do you say "hand down, man down" in Latvian? Asking for a friend. https://t.co/nqFbQ2gEE9
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) November 21, 2015
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