Kristaps Porzingis got off to a great start this season. He averaged 22.7 points and 6.6 rebounds per game while shooting 39.5 percent from three-point range. He even qualified for his first All-Star team.
In a February loss to the Bucks, however, Porzingis tore his left ACL. It was a huge blow to the Knicks, as the Latvian star will likely miss part of the 2018-19 season as well.
Kristaps now has plenty of time on his hands, and he recently spent some of that time starring in a new commercial for BODYARMOR. Kobe Bryant, one of the sports drink company’s largest shareholders, directed the hilarious new commercial. Check it out below.
Porzingis writes a letter to his parents in the commercial, scribbling: “Mom and Dad, I’m healing up fast, I miss you so hard. Love, Kristaps.”
The narrator then says, “Kristaps Porzingis wouldn’t use a carrier pigeon to update his parents in Latvia, so why would he choose an outdated sports drink?”
“I wouldn’t,” Porzingis answers.
Bryant recently won an Academy Award in the Best Animated Short category for Dear Basketball. He clearly has skill as a filmmaker, and it seems he’s committed to the craft.
Three Other Commercials
The sports drink company also released commercials featuring Houston Rockets guard James Harden, Dallas Wings guard Skylar Diggins, and Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout.
The Knicks are currently interviewing candidates for their next head coach. Jeff Hornacek was recently relieved of his duties.
Hornacek, who was the Suns’ head coach from 2013-16, coached the Knicks for two years. The storied franchise has not made the playoffs since 2012-13, when New York lost in the East semifinals to Paul George and the Pacers.
Despite a promising start, the Knicks finished No. 11 in the East this season. They went 29-53. Porzingis’ injury really derailed the season. It will be interesting to see how the team fares with a new coach, and with Kristaps back, next season.
