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Knicks assistant: Kristaps Porzingis is part-Dirk Nowitzki, part-Pau Gasol

A New York Knicks assistant coach recently set the hype train for rookie Kristaps Porzingis storming down the tracks, comparing the power forward to a pair of potential NBA Hall of Famers.

Per Adam Zagoria of SportsNet New York, Kurt Rambis said the 7’1″ Porzingis can become part-Dirk Nowitzki and part-Pau Gasol.

“He might be a combination of both of them just because he can do so many things. You guys haven’t seen it yet and probably all of it won’t come out for three or four or five years, either. He’s got to grow up, mature, develop, get stronger, get used to the NBA game.”

Rambis, who coached the Los Angeles Lakers for half of the 1998-99 season and the Minnesota Timberwolves from 2009-11, added that Porzingis is already a good decision-maker.

“But he already understands basketball. He already knows what to do. And he’s an unselfish ballplayer. He makes really good decisions. It wasn’t like he was a blank slate coming here. He knows how to play.”

The Knicks selected Porzingis with the No. 4 overall pick, and he’s expected to blossom into a featured player for the franchise.

However, he’s only 20 years old. Fair or not, that won’t happen in 2015-16 while Porzingis adjusts to the competition level in the NBA and plays behind a ball-stopper in Carmelo Anthony.

Patience is imperative in nearly every rookie’s situation, and Porzingis probably won’t be afforded that luxury because of his location. And the coach-fueled hype isn’t exactly helping Porzingis, either.

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