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The time has come. Kristaps Porzingis -- a.k.a. Three 6 Latvia a.k.a. Zingis Khan a.k.a. Latvian Superman -- has been named Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month. Karl-Anthony Towns took home honors in the West:
.@KPorzee of @NYKnicks & @KarlTowns of @Timberwolves named @Kia Rookies of the Month for November! #KiaROTM pic.twitter.com/zOcaFZnVjx
— NBA (@NBA) December 3, 2015
This is the point where I should say something like, "Kristaps faced tough competition from the likes of Jahlil Okafor, blah, blah, blah." I'll spare you all that bullshit. This belonged to Porzingis. The Baltic Bill Russell currently leads all rookies in win shares, including Towns. He also ranks seventh in double-doubles ... seventh in the entire league, that is. That boy good!
Porzingis is the first Knicks Rookie of the Month since Landry Fields won two awards of the 2010-11 season. (Correction, Chris Copeland won in April 2013, so Kristaps is the first to win the award in a full month since Landry). Boy, I wish every Knicks rookie historical fact from the last 20 years didn't seem so damn ominous.
But forget the past: Kristaps is about the future. They might as well start naming this award in his honor!