Mario Hezonja thinks New York Knicks can turn season around, but may have a punch to the nuts waiting on Christmas Day
Croat will square off with Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo on Christmas Day after their spat earlier this month
MARIO HEZONJA is confident the New York Knicks can turn their season around, starting with their Christmas Day clash with Milwaukee Bucks.
But the Croat giant won't be getting any festive greetings from Giannis Antetokounmkpo in their Madison Square Garden showdown.
The pair clashed during New York's 136-134 overtime win over the Bucks in an overtime thriller on December 1.
Giannis took exception to the way Hezonja stepped over him when celebrating a Knicks basket.
And after the game, the 'Greek freak' promised: "I'm going to punch him in the (groin) next time."
Hezonja, meanwhile, said: "I don't want to be disrespectful, but if you feel fear, this is not the place for you. New York is not a place for you, and this team is not a place for you."
Since that epic overtime victory, the Knicks have won just one game and lost nine, including their last four.
EMPIRE STATE OF MIND Basketball great Grant Hill thinks NBA stars still want to play for New York
And Hezonja believes: "If you ask anybody over here in New York, they would say we’re right there.
"It’s just we've had these slippages for a short amount of time during a game and the other team get the advantage and we pay for a mistake.
"We believe in what we are doing and what we are executing.
"We are so young that as soon as coach Fizdale) sees something that’s not working, we hit that in the next practice — whether it’s a defensive slippage or something in offence that’s not going well."
MOST READ IN SPORT
The Knicks will travel to London to take on the Washington Wizards next month in the ninth NBA regular-season game to take place at the O2 Arena.
Hezonja said: "I think we should have more than one game a season out there - especially in London.
"I played a London game once and I love it. It will be a special feeling. My entire family is in the States but of course a lot of friends are asking to come and watch.
"We will be there for four or five days. I want to see a Chelsea game but if Arsenal are playing I guess I'm an Arsenal fan! "We are not talking about the game in London yet but Frank Ntilikina and I will definitely explain a lot to them.
"They should be excited to see London, the culture there, and to see something new.
"Unfortunately some of these guys have never been to Europe so it will be a great experience for them."
Norwegian are the presenting partner of the NBA London Game 2019, serving eleven destinations in the US from London with a Premium and Economy cabin, including daily flights to New York, with prices starting from £149.90 one way.