Kristaps Porzingis is one of the tallest players in the NBA, standing at 7’3″. The Latvian plays the power forward and center position for the Dallas Mavericks. He joined the NBA in 2015 after he was selected as the fourth overall pick by the New York Knicks. Despite being booed by fans as he made his debut, Kristaps Porzingis was committed to proving his worth. He went ahead to rank among the highest rookies in scoring, rebounding, and blocked shots in his rookie season. This earned him a spot in the NBA All-Rookies First Team besides coming second as the Rookie of the Year.
The Rise to Stardom
It is during the 2016 to 2018 season that Kristaps Porzingis proved critics wrong as he was in his best form. He earned career-high points, and his stats were simply impressive as each game was an opportunity to demonstrate his outstanding class. In 2017, Kristaps Porzingis won the Skills Challenge after participating in the Rising Star Challenge. Unfortunately, Porzingis tore his left ACL in February 2018 and was ruled out for the rest of the season;
The trade to Dallas Maverick
The New York Knicks traded Kristaps Porzingis to the Dallas Maverick in early 2019, but he never played for the remainder of the season as he recovered from his injury. It was not until October 2019 that he made his debut and went on to bring his winning ways into the courts.
The Richest Shoe Deal for a European Basketball Player
After partnering with Nike for his rookie season, Kristaps Porzingis joined the NBA’s top players by signing a shoe deal with Adidas. The 7-year contract is expected to see Porzingis earn up to $6 million annually, making him the first European player to have such a lucrative deal. Since joining Adidas, Kristaps Porzingis, who wear shoe size 16, has been among the top faces representing the following shoes:
- Adidas Pro Boost
Kristaps Porzingis has been at the forefront of promoting and donning the Adidas Pro Boost, which is the Pro Bounce successor. This model is loved for its responsive cushioning, great aesthetics, and superlight midsole.
- Adidas N3XT L3V3L
Hailed as one of Adidas’s most innovative shoes, N3XT L3V3L has equally been a favorite for Kristaps Porzingis. These shoes are unique as they are laceless models that feature a banking barrier for lateral support and Lightstrike, a new midsole technology.
- Adidas Pro Bounce 2019
The Adidas Pro Bounce 2019 was built on the minimalist design that has defined the series and was a top choice for Kristaps Porzingis. It was outstanding for its supportive high-top and cushioned pods near the collar that made it comfortable for hard courts.
- Adidas Crazy Explosive 2017
During the 2017/18 season, Kristaps Porzingis was seen mainly wearing the Adidas Crazy Explosive 2017, a big improvement from its 2016 model. It provided an elite fit, and solid traction made better by its full-length boost and lateral TPU roll-cage to support aggressive play.
- Adidas Crazy Explosive 2016
This was the first Adidas shoe that Kristaps Porzingis rocked after signing his deal. It was the face of the 2016/17 season for the new Adidas athlete despite the negative criticism it faced from fans who did not like its design.