Kristaps Porzingis was nearly prepared to go to sleep in Latvia early final Thursday morning when he heard the preliminary commerce that will have despatched him to the Celtics had fallen aside.
That saved him up for a bit longer, then he determined to go to mattress and see what occurred within the morning.
“I wakened and noticed that the commerce occurred, and I used to be simply extraordinarily excited and intensely pleased,” Porzingis stated.
Porzingis says he went to mattress at 4 a.m. again house in Latvia final week, after which wakened the subsequent morning as a Celtic. And he had a giant smile on his face as he informed that story.
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) June 29, 2023
Per week later, the newly acquired 7-foot-3 flamethrower met the Boston media for the primary time on the Auerbach Heart. He sported a plain white T-shirt, a shiny gold wristwatch and a scruffy beard and proudly held up a inexperienced, No. 8 jersey alongside head coach Joe Mazzulla and President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens.
Just a few single-digit numbers have been accessible (4 and eight) and Porzingis selected 8. Someplace, Antoine Walker shimmies in approval.
Porzingis was calm and measured all through the press convention, but he made it clear this isn’t a possibility he takes flippantly. The resounding theme was how he believes he could make life simpler for Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and the remainder of the Celtics, whereas they concurrently make life simpler for him.
His purpose is to take strain off the celebrities and add his personal aptitude to enrich what already exists. When requested in regards to the notion that he might be the lacking piece to place Boston excessive, he grinned and eagerly made his imaginative and prescient clear.
“That fireside that I acquired from that concept goes to gasoline me up for the remainder of the summer season and my time right here,” Porzingis stated.
Porzingis referred to as it an “extraordinarily straightforward” resolution to come back to Boston and stated he’s thrilled to play for an “historic” and “iconic” franchise. Contemporary off a profession season, he stated he’s getting into his prime and expects his finest years to come back within the close to future.
He stated the commerce helped him notice how a lot he missed enjoying on a giant stage like he did with the Knicks, as an NBA beginner, when he might not have been fairly prepared for the highlight. Porzingis added that he’s grown up rather a lot since then. New York, he stated, ready him for nearly something.
How motivating is it to be considered by the Celtics because the piece that places them excessive?
Kristaps Porziņģis: “It is probably the most thrilling feeling you will get” pic.twitter.com/YbOHQHGvYh
— Celtics on NBC Sports activities Boston (@NBCSCeltics) June 29, 2023
Whereas the expertise on the roster is apparent, Porzingis acknowledged it could take a while to search out chemistry on the ground. He does, nevertheless, count on it’ll come.
When requested if he’ll be able to carry out within the playoffs, he offered an sincere and refreshing reply.
“Who is aware of?” Porzingis stated. “However I’m going to do the whole lot I can to assist this staff. I’ve a style of it, and I do know what it’s like.”
He understands his position extends off the court docket as nicely. After his press convention, Porzingis hung out with Ukrainian basketball players who’ve been displaced in Latvia because the struggle started and are visiting Massachusetts.
Mazzulla, in the meantime, is keen to include Porzingis in quite a lot of methods. He highlighted his versatility and famous how he can comfortably play each outdoors the 3-point line and on the rim.
He stated he informed Marcus Sensible he loves him and appreciates him. The concept isn’t to exchange Sensible. That’s not doable. It’s to include Porzingis and discover methods to maximise the match.
“I believe Kristaps will make our staff higher, and I believe he’ll make our locker room higher as nicely,” Mazzulla stated.
Stevens, in the meantime, stated the Celtics are “thrilled to have Porzingis,” and reiterated that they will not be executed simply but. The purpose is to not accumulate as a lot expertise as doable, however moderately to search out “accentuators” who mesh nicely with what’s already current.
“We’re actually fortunate,” Stevens stated. “We’ve acquired the inexperienced gentle to proceed so as to add.”
