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Dallas Mavericks: Kristaps Porzingis ranked as top 40 player by The Athletic
The Dallas Mavericks trade for Kristaps Porzingis in January 2019 while he was still rehabbing from his torn ACL. They knew the wait would be worth it, and KP did not disappoint in his first season in Dallas. There were bumps in the road including him tearing his meniscus in the playoffs, but the Mavs produced the highest offensive rating in NBA history. The Unicorn’s ability to space the floor, knock down shots, and function as a roll man are impossible to match and a key piece of Dallas’ success.
Porzingis’ bubble performance has Mavericks fans salivating about the potential next season. Including his three playoff games, the 25-year-old averaged 31.8 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks while shooting 49.0 percent from the field and 42.0 percent on his threes over nine contests. It was the best play of his career and something fans could see for an entire season in 2021.
The Athletic is ranking the best players in the NBA (subscription required) at the moment by putting them into tiers. Let us take a look at where Kristaps Porzingis fell.
Kristaps Porzingis ranked inside the top 37 by The Athletic
They placed KP in “Tier 3C” which is the 31st to 37th best players in the NBA right now. The article notes that Porzingis would be ranked higher if not for his current injury. The hope is the Unicorn is ready for the start of the 2021 season, but there are no guarantees with knee problems.
It is a fair ranking given the uncertainty. Personally, I would have Porzingis a bit higher, but there are a lot of talented players in the league. Not knowing what KP will offer next season could drop him down a bit.
It would not be surprising to see Kristaps Porzingis vault into a top 20 player if he can stay healthy next season. The Dallas Mavericks are going to be special and make a deep playoff. Fans will want to tune in every night to see what happens next, so stay tuned.