NBA draft prospect Kristaps Porzingis: Hopefully the Knicks will pick me

NBA draft prospect Kristaps Porzingis said in an interview with SI Now Tuesday that he hopes he is selected by the New York Knicks.

NBA draft prospect Kristaps Porzingis said in an interview with SI Now Tuesday that he hopes he is selected by the New York Knicks. 

Porzingis visited the SI Now studios as part of his first ever trip to New York and said has enjoyed the city thus far.

“For sure, it's a big spotlight being here, playing here in New York, a lot of pressure,” Porzingis said. “But I would love to play here one day with the Knicks, and hopefully they pick me.”

Porzingis, 19, is projected to a lottery pick in this year's draft, perhaps going as high as the top five. He is 7-foot forward and center with three-point range.

Porzingis, a native of Latvia, played the past three seasons in Spain's top league, widely regarded as the best overseas league. He averaged 11.0 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game this season for Baloncesto Sevilla. 

The Knicks were said to be interested in Jahlil Okafor and Karl-Anthony Towns, the top two big men in the draft, but neither player is expected to fall to the Knicks at No. 4. 

- Dan Gartland