Two unlikely words strike more fear in a general manager’s heart than any others in the world of professional sports: “Inner circle.” The phrase refers to the people with whom an athlete surrounds his or herself.
In the case of New York Knicks rookie Kristaps Porzingis, his inner circle is as positively influential as one could hope to find.
Since drafting the Latvian power forward, team president Phil Jackson has surrounded Porzingis with support. The likes of eight-time All-Star Carmelo Anthony, four-time NBA champion Kurt Rambis, and two-time NBA champion Sasha Vujacic have been vocal and active in his development.