WILLY PLAY?
KP says Spaniard 'deserves' more minutes
The Knicks’ broiling center controversy heated up Sunday as Kristaps Porzingis said Willy Hernangomez “deserves’’ to be on the floor. Porzingis said he is trying keep his friend’s “spirits up,” acknowledging Hernangomez is “frustrated.”
Hernangomez, the Knicks center called a building block by new management, is out of the rotation and did not play in the home opener Saturday against the Pistons.
The 6-foot-11 Spanish bull only played in garbage time in Thursday’s season opener in Oklahoma City. Before and after the game Saturday, Hernangomez, 23, admitted he was “mad’’ at the situation and left the locker room grumbling.
“I know he’s in a tough spot where he wants to play and he worked hard all summer,’’ said Porzingis, his former teammate in Seville. “He was on the national team and now he obviously he loves basketball, he wants to be on the floor every moment.
“I’m trying to talk to him to make sure he has his head up and doesn’t focus on the bad things, but focus on the things he can do better. And that way, prove that he needs to be on the floor, and we need him to be on the floor. As a close friend, I’m trying to talk to him and make sure he has his spirits up.”
Asked if he thinks Hernangomez should play, Porzingis said, “I think so. He deserves it. But we have a lot of big guys on the floor and I understand everybody’s fighting for those minutes. And not everybody is going to get what they deserve.”
Porzingis had his own issues with coach Jeff Hornacek last season, according to sources, but he took no shot at the Knicks’ coach. Hernangomez has lost the backup job to Kyle O’Quinn.
Hornacek said starter Enes Kanter and O’Quinn played “very well” in the Detroit loss, giving no indication of any change to Hernangomez’s status Tuesday in Boston.
After the Detroit game, Hernangomez told The Post’s Fred Kerber, “The same. I’m still mad. I cannot help the team win if I’m sitting on the bench. Two games in a row. It’s tough. I have to wait my moment. I cannot say nothing more.”
Porzingis confirmed Hernangomez is unhappy after making the NBA’s All-Rookie team last season and playing a vital bench role for Spain in the European Championships.
“He’s frustrated, obviously,’’ Porzingis said. “He wants to be on the floor. He’s frustrated. It’s completely normal. I want to put positive thoughts in his head. With his work and proving in practice he can play, he will earn his minutes.
“It’s not the end of the world. I think what this whole thing has to give him is more motivation to work. Just come into practice every day angry, and give your everything. And then at some point, you’re going to be so good, they can’t ignore you.”
Hornacek said he didn’t counsel Hernangomez on Sunday, but sees he’s “really gone after it’’ in recent practices — seemingly motivated. On Saturday, however, Hornacek had an eyebrow-raising response when asked about management branding Hernangomez among the team’s young core. Hornacek said those sentiments came before the Kanter trade. “Guys should be frustrated and that should make you want to work harder and that’s what he’s done,’’ Hornacek said. “In practice, he’s come out and he’s really gone after it. I love what I’m seeing from him.” Kanter has been a beast on the offensive glass and notched eight firstquarter points against Detroit on the way to a 17-point night. Neither Kanter nor Hernangomez are known for their defense — the reason the Spaniard claims he’s been banished. “We want defense from everybody,’’ Hornacek said, trying to be diplomatic. “It’s not Willy. It’s all the guys.” The worst part of this pivot puzzle is that it will only get worse — barring a trade. Joakim Noah is set to return Nov. 13 against Cleveland after serving his PED ban. Hornacek has said this season is about establishing a defensive identity. “Jo’s strength is defense,’’ Hornacek said. “We’re trying to emphasize our defense. We’re tracking things defensively and keeping an eye on our guys. We’ll end up playing guys who have an effect on the defensive end.”