There's the teacher's pet...and then there's Kristaps Porzingis.
The No. 4-overall pick was seen huddled with Phil Jackson at practice on Saturday. The two were discussing Xs and Os and the proper way to hold the ball after receiving a pass. When asked about the meeting, Porzingis' praise of Jackson was so high it rendered Derek Fisher nearly irrelevant.
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"Who's a better mentor, a better coach than Phil Jackson?" Porzingis asked, per ESPN. "It's the best place for me to be in now, alongside with him. He can help me with everything."
Phil Jackson talking to Porzingis at Knicks practice. PorZenGis, if you will.
— Peter Botte (@PeterBotte) November 28, 2015
Obviously -- winning 11 championships -- Jackson is the premier resource for players in New York; however, we're two seasons into Fisher's tenure with the Knicks and he still can't escape his former coach's shadow.
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"[Jackson] comes up to guys and tells little details about the offense, something maybe that all the other coaches didn't see," Porzingis continued. "Phil's always there and he sees other things, and he's very helpful for me.
"He's always telling me little details and helping me with the game."
Admittedly, Porzingis did add that Fisher does all the work for the Knicks. He just didn't say he did it well, nor did he say it was as beneficial as Jackson's interventions.
Like most, he was too busy being in awe of the Zen Master.
Clearly, the respect is mutual. Given Porzingis' production this season -- averaging 13.3 points and 9.1 rebounds -- he might be the prospect tempting enough to lure Jackson back to the sidelines.
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