The New York Knicks added Joakim Noah to their roster this summer, and the fiery center will play alongside one of the best young post players in the NBA, Kristaps Porzingis. Speaking to reporters yesterday, Porzingis not only gave a #MUSCLEWATCH update but also said he already admires Noah’s drive, as Ian Begley writes…
“The first conversation we had, I was in the training room. He came in with his shirt off, and I was like, ‘Oh man, you’ve been working out.’…. And we kept on talking, and he just got so intense, like he really feels it. He was like, ‘Yeah, man, this is a big opportunity; we’ve got to give it our all.’”
Porzingis relayed the story on Saturday after hosting a youth camp in Westchester.
“That’s the type of guy that we want on our team,” Porzingis said of Noah. “He brings that good energy. He brings that spirit, you know? So from the first opportunity that we got to talk, I fell in love with [his intensity].”
The Knicks hope that their fan base has the same adulation for Noah this year. Knicks president Phil Jackson signed Noah to a four-year, $72 million deal, betting that he can bounce back from shoulder injuries that limited him to 29 games last season.
With Noah on the roster, it seems as if Porzingis’ minutes at center this year will be limited to the second unit, as they were for much of last season. Many see Porzingis as a full-time center at some point in his career. Whether that is the best position for Porzingis full-time is debatable.
Porzingis would likely have to add some weight to play center full-time. He’ll enter training camp at around 240 pounds this season; he weighed between 233-235 pounds entering camp last year.
“I got a little bigger, [but] that wasn’t the main focus this summer,” Porzingis said. “It was just getting stronger and not so much bigger, although when you get stronger, it’s natural you gain weight. I want to make sure I’m comfortable at the weight.”
