Sad report:Kristaps Porzingis ’sheld tears as the  introduced a new coach to the team.

Sad report:Kristaps Porzingis’s tears sheld as he introduced a new coach to the team.

Following a defensive stop, 7-foot-3 Kristaps Porzingis may take the rebound and, rather than passing it to one of the team’s guards, sprint up the court with the ball, hoping to score or find an open teammate.

Speaking at the Knicks’ media day in White Plains, New York, the 21-year-old Latvian big man stated that ball handling and the ability to bring the ball up the court were two of his biggest improvements this offseason.

“My ball control is much improved. “I feel more comfortable pushing the ball up now, just playing pick-up basketball,” Porzingis said. “I just feel comfortable with the ball now.”

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When asked if the coaching staff prioritized his ball-handling and ability to bring the ball up the court this offseason, Porzingis declined and provided an amusing explanation for his improved talents.

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“Not really,” he replied. “It happened because we were playing pick-up games and everybody wore the same shirt. So I’m not sure who to pass it to immediately. So I better not pass it; instead, I will start pressing the ball myself, and then I may assess the situation.

“That’s how things happened. It’s strange, but it increased my confidence in bringing the ball up.”

It’s unclear whether new Knicks head coach Jeff Hornacek and his coaching staff allowed that to happen, but it could be a warning sign for the rest of the NBA.

Porzingis showed qualities during his rookie season that suggest he could be the prototypical modern NBA center—llong and athletic, with the ability to stretch the floor and shoot threes, guard the rim, and block shots. If Porzingis adds the ability to be a one-man fast break against slower, more aggressive centers, he may be a whole new sort of big man in the NBA.

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