NEW YORK -- He is 20 years old and was born in Latvia, a place that sends a lot of Americans running to Google Maps for a clue to its location. At first glance, New York Knicks rookie Kristaps Porzingis' grasp of NBA history, like his perfectly accented colloquial English ("It's on, dude") and knowledge of American culture (he's a Drake, Rihanna and Trey Songz fan), seem at odds with his faraway background.
But some of the shock about the overnight sensation Porzingis has become in New York is justified only if you forget that the European invasion of the NBA has been underway for a good 20-some years now.