New York Belongs To King Kristaps

Okay, yes, a 7-foot-3 rookie averaging 12 points and eight rebounds through the first 12 games of his career isn’t the wildest thing to ever happen. And, yes, Knicks fans should probably know better than to give their hearts to a guy on an unexpected and brief run of brilliance. But say hello to the new king of New York:

That’s Kristaps Porzingis getting drowned out by the MSG crowd after the best game of his young career. He beat down the Charlotte Hornets with 29 points and 11 rebounds while showing off a precise jumper, plenty of strength in the paint, and some downright buttery work in the post:

Who knows where Porzingis’s career is eventually headed, but right now he’s squarely in that zone—far enough above his floor to be genuinely exciting, but not close enough to his ceiling to be boring—where new players are most enjoyable. For now, just let New Yorkers have this one.