Former New York Knicks star Kristaps Porzingis heard what rookie RJ Barrett had to say about him and has clapped back.
The third overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft was asked who he'd like to dunk on given the chance, and Barrett responded with "let's go with Porzingis."
Word has finally got back to Porzingis and he let Barrett know it won't be that easy.
“He said he wants to dunk on me? That’s fine, I’m a shot-blocker," Porzingis told reporters in Dallas on Thursday.
KP responds to RJ Barrett saying he wanted to dunk on him: "I'm one of the best shot-blockers in the league...I think that's a pretty good goal." (via @fanaticsview) pic.twitter.com/4VCiLPqQYW
— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) October 3, 2019
"I don’t know what some people are saying. I’m one of the best shot-blockers in the league and I’m always up for the challenge. I think that’s a pretty good goal for him to try to dunk on me.
"That would be cool. I respect that.”
Porzingis hasn't played since February of 2018 after tearing his ACL. He was traded to the Dallas Mavericks from the Knicks in January of 2019, with the Knicks hoping to open up two max contract spots for incoming free agents. Prior to his injury, he was one of the best rim protectors in the league, averaging 2.4 blocks per game.
Most already had the Mavs-Knicks game circled on their calendar to see how Porzingis will play against his former team. Both games are in November, first in Dallas on the 8th and at the Garden in New York on the 14th.
Whether or not Barrett can deliver what most Knicks fans are hoping for only adds to the intrigue.