Kristaps Porzingis has been named a 2018 NBA All-Star reserve

Yahoo’s Shams Charania just broke the news that Knicks fans have been waiting for.

He did it! The road may not have been as smooth as we were all hoping for after his blistering start to the season, but Kristaps Porzingis is officially a 2018 All-Star. It’s a well-deserved honor for the 22-year-old Latvia, who is averaging 23.3 points per game and leads the NBA in blocked shots per game with 2.34.

New York had an All-Star representative just last year in Carmelo Anthony, but this feels far, far more significant. If I’m not mistaken, Kristaps is the first Knicks draft pick to earn an All-Star since David Lee, who (sorry, David Lee) made the team thanks to the stat-padding wizardry of Mike D’Antoni’s offense. Kristaps has plowing through the NBA as a No. 1 option without the help of wingman Tim Hardaway Jr. for much of the season, as he’s done it in Jeff Hornacek’s antiquated offense.

So huzzah to you, young Kristaps. Here’s to the first of many All-Star nods to come.