Derek Fisher: Understanding English helping with Kristaps Porzingis' transition

By foxsports
Published

Kristaps Porzingis wasn't supposed to be "NBA-ready" when he came over to the Knicks. Now, after his first five career games, we're finding that evaluation to be completely untrue.

Porzingis is averaging 12.0 points and 7.4 rebounds per game in limited minutes through five contests—and he hasn't even been hitting his jumpers, yet. Knicks coach Derek Fisher has an interesting theory as to why Porzingis' transition to the NBA has been so apparently seamless. Here it is, courtesy of Business Insider's Scott Davis:

To those who think Porzingis is only good because his English was good, I will supply you with this piece of useful information: Shaun Bradley's command of the English language was perfect. 

"It seems very simple," Fisher said, "but his understanding and command of the English language, being able to speak it, being able to understand it at a very high-level, I think it's helping with his transition."

"He's not struggling to understand what he needs to do, it's just going to take him time to become really consistent at it, like all rookies need time to develop. So, I'm not so surprised [at how smooth the transition has been], but I know there will be times where I wish it was going a little bit faster."