Kristaps Porzingis on Skills Challenge: ‘I think I have a shot’

When the season began, Kristaps Porzingis hoped to complete the All-Star weekend triple crown — the Rookie-Sophomore game, the Skills Challenge and the main event.He will have to settle for two of the three after being passed over for the All-Star Game....

Kristaps Porzingis on Skills Challenge: ‘I think I have a shot’

When the season began, Kristaps Porzingis hoped to complete the All-Star weekend triple crown — the Rookie-Sophomore game, the Skills Challenge and the main event.

He will have to settle for two of the three after being passed over for the All-Star Game. Nevertheless, Porzingis said he is “excited” about being one of the eight guys named to the Skills competition, which will take place during the Saturday night festivities Feb. 18 in New Orleans.

“Big guy like me — 7-3 — participating in the skills challenge, it should be fun,” Porzingis said Saturday before his foul-plagued performance in the Knicks’ 111-104 loss to the Cavaliers in which he scored just nine points and finished with more personal fouls than field goals. “I believe [I can win it]. I think I have a shot.”

“I was hoping I’d be in all three events, maybe. It didn’t work out, [but] I’m excited.”

Fellow big man and Rookie of the Year Karl Anthony Towns won the event last February. The event is heavy on dribbling, running and passing.

“I’m not going to prepare,” Porzingis said. “Just go freestyle and hope I don’t fall or trip.”

Porzingis only did the Rookie-Sophomore game last February and immediately flew to a famous Bahamas resort to get away but said he wishes he would have faced off against Towns last year. The resort was filled with New Yorkers and Porzingis was besieged.

“That was the worst vacation of my life,” Porzingis said. “It wasn’t the right place.”

Porzingis feels better now after missing the Washington game Tuesday with a stomach illness but bouncing back with a strong performance in Brooklyn the next night. Still weakened and having some back issues, Porzingis hit a late game-sealing bucket to lead the fourth-quarter comeback, finishing with 19 points. Porzingis said he believes he was the victim of food poisoning from the team hotel.

Our editors found this article on this site using Google and regenerated it for our readers.

NEXT NEWS