New York Knicks Rookie Kristaps Porzingis Hits Fourth in NBA Jersey Sales

New York Knicks rookie Kristaps Porzingis is perhaps the most popular man in all of New York. Almost mid-way through his first NBA season and he's basically reached Kobe Bryant-like popularity. Just check out his jersey sales as proof. The Knicks No. 6 is the fourth hottest selling jersey in the league--based on sales from October through December at the NBA's official online store. He's behind only Steph Curry, LeBron James, and, you guessed it, Kobe Bryant.

Not only that, but Porzingis is the only rookie to have his jersey in the top 15 in sales. Kevin Durant, Derrick Rose, Russell Westbrook, Kyrie Irving, James Harden, and Jimmy Buttler rounded out the top ten. Not a bad list to be on, especially for a rookie.

Porzingis was drafted with the fourth overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft. At the time, Knicks fans couldn't believe the decision. They would have preferred taking a snowball to the face in sub-zero temperatures. But it's a decision that has worked out tremendously well. Porzingis has taken to life in the NBA better than anybody could have imagined.

The 7'3" power forward from Latvia is averaging 14 points and almost 8 rebounds per game. He's ignited life into an otherwise struggling--to put it kindly--franchise, routinely doing things like this:

As proof, check out this video:

Porzingis wasn't supposed to be doing this stuff. At least, not yet. He was viewed by many around the league as a skilled big man with not enough mettle. He'd have to get bigger and stronger to be able to be effective on both ends of the court. But then he started playing and immediately dismissed all that as fiction.

"I think that my style of play just helps, the way I try to always be active and aggressive," Porzingis told nba.com. "I may not be as strong as everybody else, but I'm just trying to be really aggressive and that helps. That kind of makes up for the physicality that I lack a little bit still. But I'm getting stronger and I"m getting adjusted to the NBA game. As I get older and stronger I think it will be even easier for me."

And, after half a season under his belt, it's hard to disagree. Now get yourself a Porzingis jersey while you still can.