Kristaps Porzingis doesn't like 'Zinger' nickname

Kristaps Porzingis knows he has to shoot better. He knows he has to get stronger so he's not pushed around in the paint. He knows he's only 12 games into his Knicks career and has to tune out the growing hype after he thrilled the Garden with a 29-point, 11-rebound masterpiece on Tuesday night.

He also knows if this continues, he's going to need a better nickname.

"I don't like 'Zinger' too much," the rookie sensation said after practice on Thursday. "That nickname, I didn't like it that much."

If he keeps up his excellent play, Porzingis probably can huddle with his marketing people (once he gets some marketing people) and come up with a catchy nickname. On Tuesday night, the Garden fans were happy to chant his name and also added an "MVP" serenade during the Knicks' 102-94 victory over the Hornets.

So how did Porzingis celebrate, especially with his family in town on the eve of Wednesday's Independence Day in his native country of Latvia? Other than posting a few tweets -- and gaining 15,000 followers -- he didn't do what you might expect from a 20-year-old in New York City.

"I went right, straight to sleep," Porzingis said, "because I was so tired. It was a big night. Big night for me, big night for the team. I slept well."

When he woke up, Porzingis was the talk of the town on Wednesday. It's almost enough to give the 7-3 forward a big head. But not to worry.

"Social media's going crazy, getting more followers and stuff," Porzingis said. "But I'm right here. I'm focused. I'm not flying. We're 12 games into the season, so it's just the beginning."

Game No. 13 will come Friday night when the Knicks (6-6) visit the Thunder (7-5) in Oklahoma City to start a four-game road trip. Oklahoma City is expected to be without Kevin Durant, who would miss his fifth straight game with a hamstring injury.

Even though Durant's expected absence would give the Knicks a better chance for a win, Porzingis said he is disappointed that he might not get to face one of his NBA idols.

"That's one of the players that I look up to and learn how he plays the game," Porzingis said. "He's one of the best scorers in the league. It's really fun to watch him play. I really wanted to play against him. I was excited. But hopefully later in the season we'll have a chance."

Asked what he likes about Durant's game, Porzingis said: "Just how skinny he is, how he draws fouls. How he drives to the basket. How aggressive he is offensively. Those kinds of things. I've seen a lot of highlights. My brother always makes tapes of him, how he plays. There's a lot to learn from a guy like him."

Knicks coach Derek Fisher wouldn't go so far as to endorse a Durant-Porzingis comparison just because of their long, lean body types. But even though Fisher is trying to keep a lid on the hype, he can't help but admit the Knicks seem to have something special growing at the Garden.

"I think everybody's different, but I don't know if the combination of size and athleticism and skills, I don't know if we've necessarily seen that package before now," Fisher said. "That doesn't mean he's one of one. I just think that everybody's unique in their own ways. It's easy to compare guys, but the reality is you couldn't compare them if those guys didn't exist. I think it's great to see Kris' development, but the lofty comparisons in two weeks, it's probably too soon to put that on him."

OK, but how about a better nickname? Or should it just be "KP?" That's what Knicks president Phil Jackson started calling Porzingis after taking him with the fourth selection in the draft.

"KP's cool," Porzingis said. "I like KP."

By Anthony Rieber

anthony.rieber@newsday.comAnthonyRieber

Anthony Rieber covers baseball, as well as the NFL, NBA and NHL. He has worked at Newsday since Aug. 31, 1998, and has been in his current position since July 5, 2004.