Porzingis says Bucks star is ‘just a Freak’
It takes a lot to impress a unicorn.
But that is exactly what Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo brings to the NBA table: a real lot. And that is something the Knicks expect to see Wednesday when the Bucks of Jason Kidd invade the Garden.
“He’s unbelievable,” Kristaps Porzingis, dubbed a “unicorn” as a rookie last season by Kevin Durant, said of Antetokounmpo Tuesday. “When he goes to the basket and he keeps the ball high like that in one hand, I don’t know how anyone can stop that. He’s just a freak.”
That is sort of why they call him “The Greek Freak,” which is so much more fun than the alternative nickname, “The Alphabet.”
“Running the floor, playing point guard, playing whatever position. The things he can do on the basketball court. I don’t think there has been a guy that long and that skilled as him. So he’s definitely a problem for every team,” Porzingis said.
Antetokounmpo, averaging 23.8 points, 9.0 rebounds, 5.9 assists while shooting 53.6 percent this season, has faced the Knicks 11 times, including eight starts. In those games, he averaged 13.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists and shot 50.5 percent.
Porzingis, who sat out the past two Knicks games with a sore left Achilles tendon and was a practice spectator Tuesday, said “there’s a chance” he will play against Milwaukee although coach Jeff Hornacek used the term “doubtful” because of the forward’s recent inactivity.
“I think there’s a chance. I want to play obviously. Tomorrow’s not going to be an easy game for us and just to get back on the right track I want to be out there,” said Porzingis, who claimed his Achilles was “getting better” while insisting if it were up to him, he would have played Monday and then practiced, but it was the team’s call to be cautious.
“If it was for me I would try to play probably. But listening to the doctors it was smarter not to push it,” said Porzingis.
“Still a little stiff, the Achilles itself,” he said. “But did a little movement [Tuesday] just to get it going, get it looser and hopefully I can play [Wednesday].”
Porzingis and Hornacek want to wait on any judgment until after the morning workout Wednesday.
“They’re still holding me up not to do too much too early. I’ll do my stuff now after practice and hopefully [Wednesday] I can go through shootaround and play,” Porzingis said.
“It’s still sore. We’re being a little cautious with him. Hopefully he gets up in the morning after another treatment day today and feels better,” said Hornacek, who claimed Porzingis “wasn’t able to [practice]” and “might be doubtful” for the game.
As much as the Knicks might not want to see Antetokounmpo, the sight of Kidd could make some old time Knicks fans queasy. As a Net, Kidd mercilessly dominated the Knicks as a player — 24-7 including a 4-0 2004 playoff sweep — in his seasons in New Jersey from 2001-08. Kidd also was a key component to the Knicks’ 54-win season in 2012-13.