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 The 19-year-old Latvian, who has been playing professionally in
Spain, is expected to be one of the top picks in Thursday's NBA
Draft at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
Porzingis has been brought along gradually by Cajasol Seville in
Spain's ACB, averaging 8.1 points and 3.5 rebounds over two and a
half seasons with them.
The 7-foot-1 (2.16 m) forward said he hopes to shatter an NBA
stereotype.
"I'm conscious that there's a stereotype about white, European big
men who are skilled," the slender Porzingis told reporters during a
roundtable session on Wednesday about a perception that they play
too soft for the NBA.
"But the thing about me is the love I have for the game and the
passion. I can be in the gym three hours straight shooting by
myself.
"I think that will help me in the long run as my career goes on.
I'll keep my mentality the same, my work ethic the same."
Porzingis said his passion for the game came from a basketball
family where his father, mother and two brothers all played, and
that he was not worried about the physical demands of the NBA.
"I played with professionals for two and a half years," he said.
"Definitely I'm skinny, but I can use my length as an advantage on
defense.
"I need to put some weight on. I'll be working in the weight room a
lot. That's definitely one of the things I have to work at, getting
stronger. I think in the long run I won't have a problem with that."
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Porzingis, who developed quickness and ball-handling skills playing
guard as a youngster, said there was a difference between being
strong and being tough.
"You can be skinny and you can be tough," said the Latvian,
confident in his grit.
While there have been notable international draft flops such as
Serbian Darko Milicic, taken with the second overall pick of the
2003 draft, and Nikoloz Tskitishvili of Georgia, claimed fifth in
2002, there have been great NBA successes as well.
Porzingis believes he will fall on the list that includes All-Stars
Dirk Nowitzki of Germany and Spain's Gasol brothers, Pau and Marc.
(Editing by ......)
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