Dragan Bender’s idol is Toni Kukoc – not Kristaps Porzingis. But Porzingis’ fabulous rise as a 7-foot-3 rookie out of Latvia serves as both a blessing and curse for Bender, who recently was pegged to go as high as No. 3 to the Celtics in Thursday’s NBA Draft.
The 7-foot-1 Croatian sharpshooter’s stock has fallen in recent weeks with a lot of pundits having him at No. 7, where the Nuggets select (originally the Knicks’ selection). That a 18-year-old, skinny, 225-pound European who plays on the perimeter is being sought high in the lottery is owed to “The Porzingis Effect.”
“He’s just another of the guys who opens the way for Europeans, for sure, to come to the NBA,’’ Bender said Thursday at a midtown Manhattan hotel. “He’s one of the guys who made a huge impact his first year. Every rookie hopes to have a season like that. It was amazing for him.’’
Bender, a bench player for Maccabi Tel Aviv this past season, is not expected to make the same impact as Porzingis did as a Knicks rookie because he’ll start the NBA at age 18. Porzingis was 19 years old on draft night, but turned 20 by training camp.
Porzingis’ dazzle certainly has brought the extra scrutiny. Bender warns he’s a different player than Porzingis, though they’re both solid outside shooters. Bender says he’s more of a play-maker in transition, while the Knicks stud is a bigger deal on the defensive end.
“He’s definitely more athletic than I am, a quicker leaper,’’ Bender said. “I have more ability to handle the ball in the open court and being able to find solutions with passes in halfcourt and transition. Those things are some differences in our games. On the defensive game, he’s also a taller guy and protects the lane and I’m on the perimeter.’’
Indeed, Bender says Kukoc, a fellow Croatian and former Bulls forward who came to the NBA late in his career, is more comparable to him.
“I modeled my game after him,’’ Bender said in a profile in Sports Illustrated.
Bender never has spoken to Porzingis, who attended the Garden to watch Maccabi Tel Aviv last winter to see the next young European 7-foot standout. They faced each other one time when Bender was 14, in a Euroleague junior tournament in Barcelona.
“I’m open to any conversation,’’ Bender said.
At 225 pounds, Bender knows he will need to add weight, much like Porzingis has and is still doing. Porzingis weighed in at about 232 pounds on draft night. Though Porzingis gained 11 pounds entering training camp, he lost a lot of it during the 82-game grind of the NBA regular season.
Bender’s family from Croatia, according to SI, would bring in suitcases full of homemade pork products to Israel (the family cures their own meat).
“Natural weight-gainer,’’ Bender said.
Though Maccabi Tel Aviv lost the semifinals, Bender made a case for himself as a lottery pick, shooting 36 percent from 3-point land (but only 42.3 percent overall). Scouts still believe Bender is more advanced at 18 than Porzingis was at that age.
Bender recently worked out for the Celtics, who inherited the slot from the Nets in the Paul Pierce/Kevin Garnett trade debacle.
“Boston would be a great opportunity,’’ Bender said.
As for Israel, Bender said, “I loved it. I lived in Tel Aviv, an amazing place, amazing people and the weather all year was great. I had some fun.’’
Syracuse freshman shooting guard Malachi Richardson, from South Jersey, attended a Knicks-Sixers game in April and got some advice from former Orange star Carmelo Anthony. Richardson’s run allowed Syracuse to get to the Final Four.
“He told me if I feel comfortable to go in the draft, I should,’’ Richardson said. “He didn’t tell me to go into the draft- just if I feel comfortable.”
Richardson’s stock has risen with solid workouts, and he is expected to be selected in the teens.