Kristaps Porzingis busting stereotype of soft European player

Kristaps Porzingis already knew what people would say about him because of the trail of tall, thin European players who didn't make it in the NBA.

Words such as soft, stiff, project and bust motivated the 7-3 Latvian forward to show he wasn't and wouldn't be any of those things.

Porzingis would talk to teammates on his Spanish team Baloncesto Sevilla last year during long bus and train rides about proving he was more Dirk Nowitzki than European-born players Darko Milicic, Shawn Bradley or Jan Vesely.

Fifteen games into Porzingis' NBA career, the Knicks' rookie is doing just that. Porzingis, 20, is nearly averaging a double-double (13.7 points and 9.1 rebounds) and shattering the stereotype he knew didn't fit him.

"I'm not surprising myself," Porzingis said. "I knew what I was capable of. A lot of people weren't expecting much from me right away, so maybe a lot of people are surprised. But I knew what I could do.

"Everybody was saying, 'Project, a few years.' I will get better in a few years, but I knew I was able to play right now. That was my mentality going into the NBA."

Expected success

Derrick Byars, a forward on Sevilla last year, was Porzingis' roommate on many of those European road trips.

A second-round pick of the Blazers in 2007, Byars has been on several NBA training camp rosters and summer league teams, appeared in two games with the Spurs in 2012, and played in the D-League.

"I really thought he would succeed in the NBA," said Byars, who played collegiately at Virginia and Vanderbilt. "I didn't think he would be the quote-unquote European bust. One-hundred percent I didn't think he would be a bust.

"Certain guys when they go high in the draft, they have that label or that stigma as far as being soft or whatever. He really talked about that a lot with me. He's playing with a chip on his shoulder to silence the doubters out there. He's a big-time sensation right now."

When the Knicks selected Porzingis with the fourth pick, fans at Barclays Center booed, fearing he would be another Shawn Bradley.

Five months later, Porzingis has become one of New York's most popular athletes, and received high praise from stars such as LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Nowitzki and Anthony Davis.

Porzingis' jersey is the highest selling in the NBA store besides several variations of Steph Curry's. Now Knicks fans are envisioning Porzingis leading them to a title, and Byars just laughs at it all.

"When he got booed on draft night, I'm just sitting there and I'm like, 'These people don't even know,' " Byars said. "They have no idea what kind of talent they're getting. The Knicks could really use him right now. I was really happy that he got into a good situation where his talents could be used well. Some rookies don't get that."

Byars saw quickly that Porzingis was different. Byars saw that Porzingis was skilled, agile and athletic with a sweet jump shot. Byars also marveled at Porzingis' maturity and focus at 19 years old.

He would come early and stay late. He was hungry and driven to improve and succeed, and much stronger than anyone thought.

"We played against some men and he held his own with his strength, playing against some tough players," Byars said. "That's when I really knew. He's more skilled than these players; he'll be even scarier once he meets the challenge of the physical part.

"Being compared to Shawn Bradley and stuff like that, he laughs at that. We talked about that and he laughs. He's exceptionally skilled and he's only going to get better."

Getting attention

It hasn't taken long for the NBA to see that. He got everyone's attention with put-back dunks. One over San Antonio's LaMarcus Aldridge. Another over Cleveland's Kevin Love, A big-time slam and scream against the Bucks. And another stuff over three Raptors.

But Porzingis is doing much more than that for the 8-7 Knicks. Porzingis had his first double-double in his fourth game, and has seven overall. He's had at least 20 points and 11 rebounds in three of the last four games.

"He's really making waves around the league and it's not just ESPN highlights," Wade said. "He's putting up big numbers and he's playing big."

Porzingis was matched up against Thunder forward and elite defender Serge Ibaka on Monday. On one play, Ibaka guarded Porzingis at the three-point line. Porzingis put the ball down, dribbled to the basket and was fouled. He's just showing parts of his game, which includes some nice post moves, the Dream Shake a la Hakeem Olajuwon, and Porzingis wants to add Nowitzki's step-back jumper. The Knicks believe this is just the beginning.

"I'm just watching him kind of develop and grow," Derek Fisher said. "Whatever his ceiling becomes, it will be because of him and not because of any limitations we've placed on him. "

Porzingis' legend grew with a 24-point, 14-rebound, seven-block performance in a win over Houston on Saturday.

Then in Miami on Monday, the Heat promised to pay more attention to him and be more aggressive. The Knicks lost and Porzingis said he didn't play well, and he still finished with 20 and 14. Carmelo Anthony scoffed at the idea of teams trying to rattle Porzingis by playing physically.

"They can try," Anthony said. "He ain't soft. "

The Anthony-Porzingis dynamic is critical to the Knicks' success. Reports surfaced after the draft that Anthony was unhappy with the pick. He's gone out of his way to show he trusts and believes in Porzingis, and he's expressed similar praise about him.

Porzingis wants to be accepted by Anthony and is trying to learn from him. Anthony welcomes that, but he's also impressed by Porzingis and his potential.

"I'm here to help him," Anthony said. "It seems like he's doing a pretty good job. I don't want no credit for that. He's doing a good job of his own, just getting through learning the game, getting a feel for the game. As you can see each game he's getting better and better."

Byars admitted he’s surprised by Porzingis’ rebounding, but nothing else. Byars felt Porzingis was ready and he’s excited he’s silencing the doubters, but he’s also happy for selfish reasons.

“He’s doing really great on my fantasy team right now,” Byars said. “I made a trade for him. Somebody was stupid enough to give him to me.”

The Knicks look smart for taking Porzingis.

By Al Iannazzone

al.iannazzone@newsday.comAl_Iannazzone

Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.