NEW YORK -– New York Knickerbockers President Phil Jackson announced today that the team has signed 2015 first-round draft picks forward Kristaps Porzingis and guard Jerian Grant to contracts.
Porzingis, 7-3, 233 pounds, was the fourth overall selection in the 2015 NBA Draft who had played professionally for Cajasol Seville in Spain over the past three seasons. In 75 career ACB games, the 19-year-old averaged 8.1 points, and also added a 9.9 points-per-game average in Eurocup play. At the 2015 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas earlier this month, Porzingis averaged 10.5 points in four games for New York’s entry.
Grant, 6-4, 198, was the 19th overall selection in the 2015 NBA Draft who averaged 14.6 points and 5.8 assists over four seasons with Notre Dame. In his senior season, the Silver Spring, MD native was named a First Team All-American and was one of five finalists for the John R. Wooden Award as the National Player of the Year by averaging 16.5 points and 5.8 assists in 38 games. At the 2015 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas earlier this month, Grant averaged 11.8 points and 4.8 assists in five games for New York’s entry.