Kristaps Porzingis living with parents despite $4 million New York Knicks contract

GIANT NBA sensation Kristaps Porzingis will make more than $4 million this season - yet lives with mum and dad. His explanation actually makes sense.

Kristaps Porzingis, Carmelo Anthony, Langston Galloway

THE chance of rookie Kristaps Porzingis winding up outside a strip joint in Maspeth, Queens, in the wee hours is probably as likely as him growing to 7-foot-8.

Actually, the 7-foot-3 Porzingis jokingly referred to himself as being 7-foot-8 at the Knicks shootaround Friday morning. If any Knick is a good bet to stay out of trouble, it is Porzingis, who often has said he is in New York City only for the games.

Porzingis - the No.5 NBA draft pick making more than $4 million for his rookie season and who claims to not drink - is living in a cocoon in White Plains with his parents from Latvia and his two brothers.

“It’s always good to have support around as young as I am and New York with a lot of attention,’’ Porzingis said at the United Center on Friday. “My family’s around to make sure I’m doing the right thing and staying out of trouble and focused on basketball. For me, it’s great to have family around.’’

WATCH PORZINGIS’ EPIC ‘DREAM SHAKE’ MOVE IN THE VIDEO ABOVE

Kristaps Porzingis has been sensational for the Knicks in his rookie NBA season.

The Knicks are reeling from two ugly incidents in a space of 11 days that prompted GM Steve Mills to give a talk to the players before they flew to Chicago for New Year’s Eve. The Knicks face the Bulls on Friday night.

Knicks forward Derrick Williams allegedly got robbed of $750,000 worth of jewellery two weeks ago by two women he met at a club and took back to his apartment in the wee hours.

On Wednesday at about 4:15 a.m., Knicks forward Cleanthony Early was robbed and shot in the right knee after leaving a Queens strip joint and being held up by at least six bandits.

“It’s sad that things like that happen,’’ said Porzingis, the first Knick to tweet a sympathetic message to Early on Wednesday morning. “It shows how careful you have to be in those situations.’’

Although the drinking age in Latvia is 18, Porzingis says he does not drink at all. And as far as going out to a nightclub, Porzingis said, “I’m 20 years old.’’

New York Knicks forward Kristaps Porzingis lives with his parents despite a rich contract.

Of course, that didn’t stop fellow rookie centre Jahlil Okafor from getting into trouble. But Porzingis has followed a different path and has taken to heart the lessons of the August rookie orientation program held in Westchester.

“A lot of good information in the program,’’ Porzingis said. “The rookie transition program won’t save you from those situations, but it tells you how to react and (offers) a lot of good information for us to be careful and know what (could) be coming.

“They gave us information about guns, when you’re going out, how you should react if somebody’s trying to provoke you.’’ Porzingis said there are also guest speakers — “a lot of interesting people to learn from their situations and they told us their stories.’’

Porzingis was in a joking mood on New Year’s Day, wondering if he will grow to 7-foot-8.

“I’ve been growing always,’’ Porzingis said. “When I was 6-11, the doctors said you’re done, then I got to 7-2, 7-3. We’ll see.’’

Kristaps Porzingis (6) has been hugely popular with Knicks fans after being drafted at No.5.

Porzingis told The Post doctors recently have told him he’s certainly done growing, but perhaps the Latvian is sceptical.

Mills, with the club in Chicago, declined comment on the two off-court incidents that have whacked the Knicks. Coach Derek Fisher also was involved in an off-the-court incident when he got into a fight in Los Angeles with Matt Barnes. Fisher was dating Barnes’ estranged wife. Barnes is serving a two-game suspension, and in a New Year’s Eve post on Instagram called Fisher “a snitch’’ and a “snake.’’

Fisher indicated there was no set curfew for New Year’s Eve in Chicago and believes the distractions created by the Early incident won’t carry over. Early has been inactive for all but 10 games this season and is out indefinitely.

“I’m not worried about our group,’’ Fisher said. “Everybody’s excited about playing the game. Guys are adults. We had some conversations just in general about the climate we’re in. Guys still made decisions the way they saw fit. Everybody’s here this morning — no issues.’’

Friday night’s game at United Center will be Porzingis’ first battle against Pau Gasol, to whom he has been compared. Gasol missed the first meeting last month.

“Especially when I was 9, 10, he was on the Lakers,” Porzingis said. “That was my team. Kobe and Pau. I was a big fan. I love to see how intelligent he is on the floor. His basketball IQ is one of the highest there is. He knows the game so well, and those are the things I learn from him how well he reads the game.’’

This article originally appeared on the New York Post

Originally published as Kristaps Porzingis living with parents despite $4 million New York Knicks contract