Kristaps Porzingis Skips Exit Meetings Reportedly Due To Frustration With Franchise
Nov 17, 2015; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks forward Kristaps Porzingis (6) and forward Carmelo Anthony (7) react against the Charlotte Hornets during the second half of an NBA basketball game at Madison Square Garden. The Knicks defeated the Hornets 102-94. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
The one player the New York Knicks do not want to rub the wrong way is rising star Kristaps Porzingis. Apparently, it may be too late for that as the second-year player intentionally missed the team’s exit meetings.
According to Ian Begley of ESPN, Porzingis skipped the exit meeting with the Knicks brass because of frustration with a clearly dysfunctional franchise:
Kristaps Porzingis skipped exit meetings with New York Knicks management due to frustration over what he perceives as the dysfunction and drama surrounding the organization, team sources told ESPN.com.
Porzingis, who has been the lone bright spot for the Knicks franchise over the last two years, is without a doubt the future face of the team. He’s already far exceeded expectations after being the surprise No. 4 overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft behind Karl-Anthony Towns, D’Angelo Russell, and Jahlil Okafor.
The 21-year-old took his game to another level in his sophomore season with the Knicks improving his numbers across the board while proving that his breakout rookie season was indeed no fluke.
Unfortunately for the Knicks, Porzingis is clearly unhappy with the way things are going in New York and has no problem expressing his discontent. Along with the team continuing to struggle, Carmelo Anthony appears to be on his way out via trade this summer while Phil Jackson isn’t exactly living up to the hype as team president.
On Friday, things in New York became that much more dysfunctional when Jackson publicly said it is time for Anthony to move on. This may have prompted Porzingis to skip the exit meeting as he has enjoyed playing alongside the veteran forward in his first two seasons.
Regardless of the reasoning, Jackson and company have to get it together before Porzingis becomes the next star in New York hoping to move on.
