Kristaps Porzingis billboards are being raised in Latvia

By JOHN DORN

New York Knicks rookie Kristaps Porzingis was maligned in the Big Apple before he even stepped foot on the hardwood -- presumably because he was European, and American fans simply didn't know much about him.

Now, Less than three months into his professional career, the Latvian is taking the league's biggest market by storm. Knicks fans are enamored with the 20-year-old sudden star, and, expectedly, so is his hometown.

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Photos emerged online Tuesday of Porzingis' native Liepāja, and numerous ads recently risen, promoting the Knick, as happy workers celebrate their favorite son.



The city's official Twitter account even tweeted in their vote to send Porzingis to Toronto for February's All-Star Game.

Just 39 games into his NBA career, Porzingis is averaging 13.6 points, eight rebounds and two blocks per game, having already taken home two straight Rookie of the Month awards. He and Karl Towns of the Minnesota Timberwolves appear to be the frontrunners for Rookie of the Year.

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