Kristaps Porzingis Finally Got To Workout With Dirk Nowitzki While In Africa


Getty Image

The moment 7’3 Kristaps Porzingis‘ highlight tape began being passed around by NBA fans ahead of the 2015 NBA Draft, there was one comparison that was unavoidable. The lanky sharp-shooting Latvian was immediately dubbed the next Dirk Nowitzki, which was a significant thing to pin on Porzingis, since Dirk is the greatest international player of all-time.

While there is often a tendency to lazily compare prospects to someone who looks like them — international white players to other international white players, especially — there were some legitimate similarities between the two. Nowitzki is a lethal shooter from the perimeter and mid-range, which has made him almost impossible to defend because of his length.

Porzingis has similar qualities, although he isn’t as consistent a shooter as Nowitzki.

What also helped the comparisons was Porzingis being very open about his love of Dirk’s game and how he modeled much of his work on the perimeter after the German legend. There are plenty of differences between the two as well, most notably Porzingis’ athleticism and bounce which is far greater than anything Nowitzki has ever possessed.

Even so, it was still very cool to see the two who have admired each other from afar and have spoken briefly via text and in their few on-court encounters come together at the NBA Africa game in Johannesburg, South Africa over the weekend and finally get the chance to workout together in person.

It wasn’t a strenuous workout filled with drills, but instead just some fun shooting competitions between the two. Still, Porzingis seemed thrilled to have the chance to pick the brain of one of the NBA’s all-time greats (from anywhere) and the model for how a shooting big man can carve out a Hall of Fame career in the league.

As for Nowitzki, he marveled at Porzingis’ potential and all-around game, noting that Kristaps has got athleticism and defensive prowess beyond what Nowitzki ever has had and thinks he has the chance to be a special player in the league.

“He’s a little longer and a little better defender and a little more mobile than I ever was,” Nowitzki said. “A little more athletic. But the shooting stroke he’s got. He shoots it easy from deep. He shoots it well off the bounce. He can move. He can drive. So, I mean, he’s the whole package.”

That was never more on display than in their game of HORSE when Porzingis went to Nowitzki’s biggest weakness, dunking, for a cheap letter.

Porzingis had a very interesting summer, but he’s about to be the man in New York and Knicks fans would be thrilled if he picked up a few pointers from Nowitzki on how to handle that starring role during their time in South Africa together.

×