Mavs strength coach says the suddenly jacked Kristaps Porzingis put on 16 pounds

It really wasn’t too long ago when the New York Knicks drafted the skinny, 7-foot-3 Kristaps Porzingis out of Latvia. That was just four years ago.

Well, it’s unbelievable what four years of training can do for an NBA player.

Porzingis, now with the Mavericks, missed all of last season as he rehabbed an ACL injury. But he hasn’t been slacking in the weight room — not at all. The Mavs big man has stayed busy, and workout photos from last month showed just how ripped he’s suddenly been looking in the offseason. It was shades of Ivan Drago.

And you better believe that the Mavericks have taken notice. According to Mavericks reporter Tamara Jolee, Mavs director of athletic performance Jeremy Holsopple said that Porzingis has added between 16 and 17 pounds this offseason and was “all in” with his regimen.

Saw Jeremy today & asked about these pics. Said KP "put on about 16-17 pounds…" and noted that he can give players direction, but they have to do the work. Said KP was ALL in tho, very disciplined w/ food & workouts. Jackson added 20; on Powell (laughing) "He's always flexing" https://t.co/5v2toXPSVt

— Tamara Jolee (@TamaraJolee) September 24, 2019

Like, that’s all muscle.

Again, the player who once looked like this:

(Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for Delta Air Lines)

Now looks like this:

"I must break you."

Kristaps Porzingis is in the gym looking a lot like Ivan Drago

(via @kporzee) pic.twitter.com/1SDNz7wmxU

— The Crossover (@TheCrossover) August 14, 2019

And he gets to be paired with Luka Doncic. Watch out, NBA.