Mavericks: What to expect from Kristaps Porzingis in his debut and beyond

What to expect from Dallas Mavericks star Kristaps Porzingis in his season debut

Porzingis had three scenarios where he was coming off a significant layoff in his first season with the Mavericks. He had not played in an NBA game in over 20 months before the 2019-2020 opener. KP produced 23 points, four rebounds, and one block coming off his ACL recovery, but struggled a bit with his jumper in that game. In January 2020, the Unicorn returned after a ten-game absence to finish with ten points and nine boards on four of 17 from the field.

Porzingis was fantastic in his bubble debut, but he was not returning from injury in that game. Fans should expect some rust, especially on his jumper. KP has not played in an NBA game in five months.

He will make a massive impact on the defensive end, though. The Mavericks need rebounding and rim protection. Expect the Unicorn to provide both in his season debut against the Charlotte Hornets. Do not be surprised to see Mavs coach Rick Carlisle watch his minutes closely on Wednesday evening. Expect less than his normal workload as Porzingis ramps up. Remember, he missed all of training camp and only began practicing two weeks ago.

It will be a slow start for Kristaps Porzingis, but what should fans expect this season?

Next: What to expect this season