Latvian teenager Kristaps Porzingis has plenty to prove with New York Knicks

He was the surprise fourth pick in the NBA draft by the New York Knicks, whose fans booed the 7-foot-1 (2.16 metres) forward, convinced the club erred by taking a European.

Kristaps Porzingis, right, poses for a photo with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver after being selected fourth overall by the New York Knicks during the NBA basketball draft, Thursday, June 25, 2015, in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)Show less

Kristaps Porzingis, a 19-year-old Latvian, was the surprise fourth pick in the NBA draft by the New York Knicks, whose fans booed the 7-foot-1 (2.16 metres) forward, convinced the club erred by taking a European.

Plenty to prove

Porzingis said: “Lot of fans weren’t happy they drafted me. I have to do everything in my hands to turn those booing fans into clapping fans. The fans are harsh sometimes. That’s how it is in New York and I’m ready for it.” He said he wanted to “end the fear” that NBA fans have for spending high draft picks on Europeans.

A project

Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated wrote that Porzingis is “at least two years away from doing anything at an NBA level, but if developed right he could be a franchise player. But there are legitimate concerns in Porzingis’s camp about how he will handle the pressure of New York.”

No apologies

Phil Jackson, club president of the Knicks and an 11-time NBA champion as coach, said the European player, who was little-known a month ago, represented the “greatest risk/reward” bargain in the draft. He added: “I think our fans are going to like him. The reaction of the crowd is what you anticipate in New York, and he’s aware of it.”

Burden of history

Perhaps Knicks fans knew that none of the past 16 Europeans who were drafted as lottery picks have become all-stars. They also may not expect their team to get things right; the Knicks have had losing records in 11 of the past 14 years. Their most recent championship was in 1973.

Other picks

Karl-Anthony Towns, a freshman centre from Kentucky, was taken by the Minnesota Timberwolves to open the draft. Guard D’Angelo Russell of Ohio State went to the Los Angeles Lakers and Duke centre Jahlil Okafor to the Philadelphia 76ers. After Porzingis, Orlando took Croatian guard Mario Hezonja.

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