Mavericks’ Kristaps Porzingis not Likely to play This Season

Kristaps Porzingis in 2018
Kristaps Porzingis with Knicks blocking Lakers' Jordan Clarkson. Photo by Jevone Moore/Cal Sport Media/CSM/REX/Shutterstock

Kristaps Prozingis isn’t likely to play for the Dallas Mavericks for the remaining part of this season as he recovers from an ACL injury he suffered in February 2018.

Prozingis, 23, signed for the Mavericks on Tuesday after informing the Knicks he didn’t want to be part of their rebuilding team in New York. He was traded to Dallas in a monster deal that saw Dennis Smith Jr., Deandre Jordan, Wesley Matthew and two future first-round picks leave Dallas.

While Mavericks’ owner Mark Cuban admitted the Latvian player won’t be playing in the next few months, Dallas is committed to signing him to a long-term deal. Porzingis allegedly adores Luka Doncic and Dirk Nowitzki is his idol, two players Cuban hope will motivate the 23-year-old to commit his future to the team.

Doncic is averaging 20.4 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.4 assists despite being only 19 years of age. He’s also one of the best players in Dallas. Before his injury, Porzingis was also a rising star who averaged 22 points and made it to the All-Star game in just his third NBA season.

“We obviously think Porzingis is a great young talent, similar in many ways to Dirk,” Coach Rick Carlisle said of the Latvian upon his arrival in Dallas.

According to ESPN, Porzingis hasn’t yet decided whether he wants to commit his future to Dallas. If that’s the case, he’s allowed to sign a two year deal that will see him become a free agent in 2020.