10 Biggest Surprises of the New NBA Season

#8 Porzingis entering superstar status

The Unicorn has been nothing short of great this year

After a turbulent off-season which culminated in the Knicks trading Carmelo Anthony, the message was clear. The Knicks have officially handed the keys to their organization to Kristaps Porzingis. In response, Porzingis has been particularly brilliant, averaging 30.4 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game on 51.3 percent shooting from the field, including 41.1 percent from the three-point arc leading the Knicks to a 7-5 start.

If Porzingis keeps piling up numbers at that pace, he will join Bob McAdoo as the only players in league history to average at least 30 points, seven boards and two blocks over the course of a season.

Many expected Porzingis to take a leap this season, but to take a leap this huge which has him in the MVP conversation wasn't expected. There's a legitimate chance that he can lead the Knicks to a playoff berth this season and if he does then he'll rightfully be considered one of the best players in the league. Among other things, he would've proved Phil Jackson right, that the Knicks were better without Carmelo Anthony.

As for Porzingis, he's staying humble. He says, "I'm slowly earning the respect of other superstars in the league, but still have a long way to go to prove that I can be of those guys in the NBA."