Skip to content

LEAGUES News

Porzingis' future with Knicks based on values beyond money, brother says

Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports / Action Images

For Kristaps Porzingis, the money will be there one way or another, says older brother Janis. What really matters to the Knicks' budding superstar is success on the hardcourt.

Porzingis' agent and confidant says the 22-year-old center is motivated by factors beyond maximizing his career earnings - and will take those factors into consideration before inking a long-term extension in New York - according to Latvian website, Sportacentrs.

Here's what Janis Porzingis had to say, as translated by Eurohoops.net:

The most important question here is this: What do you really want to achieve in your career? Because money - if Kristaps performs at least on his normal level - is gonna come. We are more focused on some other values and not just to quickly sign a new contract so we can collect the money. That’s definitely not our goal, so we won’t be feverishly counting minutes or counting points. You can’t escape the reality and the Knicks must also see that. From their point of view, Kristaps is the focal point at the moment so you cannot upset him much or otherwise, at the end of the season, he will say “it’s not so cool here.” The second question is: Who is the New York audience coming to watch now? To a large extent, it’s Kristaps. So the organization has to take that into account.

The No. 5 pick in the 2015 draft will be eligible for the Knicks' designated rookie extension next summer. That could see him remain with the team through the 2023-24 season, similar to the $148-million extension 2014 draftee Andrew Wiggins signed this summer with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Only time will tell if Porzingis is truly willing to forgo a payday of that magnitude, but the need to establish a winning culture in New York has been a common refrain from the Porzingis camp throughout 2017.

RELATED NEWS

Tyler O'Neill is the first player in MLB history to homer in...
O'Neill hits HR in 5th consecutive Opening Day game to set record 💪
The @AnaheimDucks strike 44 seconds apart on the same penalt...
Lundestrom, Silfverberg score shorthanded goals 44 seconds apart 🦆
Logan Cooley's second of the game was a BEAUTY! 😍
Cooley with the moves in front for Coyotes' 4th straight goal 🕺
This spinning pass from Conor Garland is a sight to behold! ...
Garland sets up Miller with brilliant spinning pass 💫
BIG. GOAL. BARBIE.
Barbashev's late goal serves as dagger to Jets 🗡️
DEJOUNTE MURRAY IS HIM AGAIN
Dejounte sinks Celtics with 0.1 left in OT