Back earlier this year in March, Kristaps Porzingis expressed his desire to work out with and pick the brain of fellow European NBA star Dirk Nowitzki. The New York Knicks star said to the New York Post at the time: "I'm sure it will help me out and improve my game, hopefully, unless Mark Cuban says no. Dirk is a guy who can really help my game. Hopefully, I'll have a chance to work with him, a few days to get on the court with him and pick his brain."Sure enough, this past week in Johannesburg, South Africa for the NBA Africa game, Porzingis got his wish to play alongside the Dallas Mavericks icon, where he said he was a fan of the Latvian, believing the sky is the limit for him and that he is the real deal.Many NBA fans have drawn the comparisons between the two players due to their similar backgrounds and frames despite Dirk being 17 years Kristaps' senior. This age gap was clearly demonstrated during a game of H-O-R-S-E this past weekend.Porzingis showed just how much of a star in the NBA he could be during the 'friendly' game, by pulling off an absolutely amazing one-handed dunk with his seven-foot-three frame.Needless to say, when it was Nowitzki and his 39-year-old frame's time to replicate the score as part of the game, he was not able to do it, blaming the height difference between the two as the reason why.
Brooklyn Nets forward Rondae Hollis Jefferson was taking part in the game as well and even he wasn't able to replicate the Knicks star's amazing dunk, just showing how much a talent he really is at his young age of 22 years.
Following a strong rookie season in New York, the power forward averaged 18.1 points and 7.2 rebounds per game last season despite everything else going on around him at the team. His third season in the league looks to be another interesting and challenging season for him, as he looks to take the Knicks back to the playoffs for the first time in four seasons.
The German, on the other hand, is coming towards the end of his career and could retire from the NBA following the conclusion of next season. In July, the 13-time All-Star signed a two-year, $10 million deal to stay with the Mavericks, with the second year being a team option.
Porzingis announced this past week that he would like to be a member of the Knicks for the rest of his career, which would follow in Nowitzki's footsteps of playing for just one team in the NBA.