'Big Noise!' Celtics' Kristaps Porzingis Praises Spurs' Victor Wembanyama
In this story:
San Antonio Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama has a lot in common with Boston Celtics big man Kristaps Porzingis.
Both came to the NBA from Europe as top international prospects with incredibly high expectations. Wembanyama has been the most hyped prospect in recent memory, while Porzingis had to deal with the New York pressure as the big building block for the Knicks.
Dec 15, 2023; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) greets fans before the game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Frost Bank Center.
© Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports
That gives Porzingis a lot of empathy towards Wembanyama, whom he believes could emerge as a star in the league like he was intended to be.
"You can see his interactions with Pop (Spurs coach Gregg Popovich). He’s like, eye contact, listening, doing exactly what they tell him to do. And that’s a huge part of him just keep growing and keep getting better," Porzingis said via The Athletic's David Aldridge. "He’s already making big noise in this league, and it’s his first year, when he’s coming in very skinny, and he still has so much room to grow. But seeing that from him, that just tells me a lot about him, about his personality. And if keeps that mindset, he’ll be fine."
Porzingis is a nine-year veteran who has played with the Knicks, Dallas Mavericks, Washington Wizards and Celtics, so he's seen a thing or two in the league and knows what it takes to succeed. This means that Wembanyama now has a strong stamp of approval as he embarks on chasing greatness.
Porzingis and the Celtics visit the Spurs in San Antonio on New Year's Eve. Tipoff for Sunday is set for 6 p.m. CT.
