Knicks rookie Kristaps Porzingis has been one of the NBA's top stories all season, but he’s struggled as of late.
But Knicks interim coach Kurt Rambis says he isn't not worried about Porzingis’ apparent run into the rookie wall.
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“He’s still 20 years old. He’s got a lot to learn,” Rambis said Wednesday, via the New York Post. “My mindset is not going to change about him. He’s going to be great. There’s not a doubt in my mind. But if you thought it was going to happen this season and be perfect and not make mistakes, do everything right and solve all the mysteries of basketball this year, it wasn’t going to happen.”
Porzingis averaged 15.3 points and 7.2 rebounds in January. Since then, his numbers have been in decline, dropping to just 10.7 and 5.7 rebounds while shooting just 37.1 percent from the field in March. The team has been in a free fall as well, going 3-12 since Feb. 1.
Porzingis, the fourth overall pick in last year’s draft, knows he needs to do better. But he also knows that comes with time.
“Bad games happen," Porzingis said. "Two, three games later, I have a great game. It’s the ups and downs, especially my rookie season. It’s all learning experiences. Sometimes games you don’t feel as well, some games you feel better. I’m trying to find consistency to play at the same level. I’m not there, yet. But I’m learning."