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Kristaps Porzingis has become so good he's almost single-handedly ruining the Knicks' grand scheme this season

The Knicks were expected to tank and prepare for a rebuild this season, but Kristaps Porzingis has thrown that plan for a loop.

  • Kristaps Porzingis became the New York Knicks' clear No. 1 player when they traded Carmelo Anthony.
  • Porzingis has adjusted to the role better than imagined, averaging nearly 30 points per game for the 3-3 Knicks.
  • Porzingis has been good enough to keep the Knicks competitive, which may change the way the team has to approach their rebuild.

When the New York Knicks traded Carmelo Anthony to the Oklahoma City Thunder in September, it became clear that they were handing the keys to the team to Kristaps Porzingis.

It was a natural progression, turning the team over from the aging star to the 22-year-old up-and-comer in the midst of a rebuild.

While it would be a long, sometimes painful season, Porzingis, the clear future of the franchise, could get his shot as the No. 1 option on the court, while the Knicks could evaluate their team and lose enough games to acquire a high draft pick to help build around him.

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Except six games into the season, Porzingis is threatening to change the Knicks' course as he's taken to being the No. 1 option better than anyone expected.

Through six games, Porzingis is averaging 29 points per game on 47% shooting, 36% from three, with 8 rebounds and nearly 2 blocks per game for the 3-3 Knicks. It's early, yes, but the Knicks have won three games in a row, beating the improved Brooklyn Nets, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Denver Nuggets. Porzingis has tallied five 30-point games in six nights, the first player in Knicks history to do so to begin a season.

The coup de grace came on Monday when Porzingis poured in a career-high 38 points with 7 rebounds and 3 blocks to beat the Nuggets. Porzingis showed off a little bit of everything, from an improved mid-range game and fade-away that looked a lot like Anthony's:

To Stephen-Curry-esque range:

To the ability to sky for an alley-oop, then protect the rim on the next possession:

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Porzingis heard MVP chants as he shot free throws down the stretch. His teammates also sang his praises after the game.

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