New York Knicks forward Kristaps Porzingis remains out of the lineup Sunday, and by the look of things he isn’t going to be back any time soon.
Still recovering from a shoulder injury that will cost him at least three games, Porzingis still isn’t even shooting, per Ian Begley of ESPN New York.
To give you an idea of where Kristaps Porzingis is physically, Kurt Rambis says he hasn't started shooting again yet.
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) April 3, 2016
The much hyped rookie out of Latvia has been impressive during his first NBA campaign. He’s averaged 14.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game this year, showing off a diverse skill set that makes it clear the Knicks made the right choice drafting him No. 4 overall last year.
Allowing him to come back and possible re-injure his shoulder would be unforgivable by the Knicks. Thankfully interim head coach Kurt Rambis has already made it clear Porzingis is not going to play again until he is fully healthy.
The team is nowhere near the playoff chase, 9.5 games behind the No. 8 seed in the east, the Indiana Pacers. At this point, one wonders if the smart course of action would be to simply keep him out for the remainder of the season to save him for a renewed effort in 2016-17.