Kristaps Porzingis was about to fall asleep in Latvia early last Thursday morning when he heard that the initial trade that would have sent him to the Celtics had fallen through.
This kept him awake a little longer, then he decided to go to bed and see what happened in the morning.
“I woke up and saw this trade happen, and I was so excited and so happy,” Porzingis said.
Porzingis says he went to bed at 4am at his home in Latvia last week, then got up the next morning as a Celtic. He had a big smile on his face as he told that story.
– Boston Celtics (celtics) June 29, 2023
A week later, the newly acquired 7-foot-3 flamethrower met the Boston media for the first time at the Auerbach Center. Wearing a plain white T-shirt, a shiny gold watch and a scruffy beard, he proudly carried a green number 8 jersey alongside Coach Joe Mazzola and Head of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens.
Only a few single-digit numbers (4 and 8) were available and Porzingis chose the 8. Somewhere, Antoine Walker was glistening in approval.
Porzingis was calm and level-headed throughout the press conference, but made clear that this is not an opportunity he takes lightly. The loud topic was how he thought he could make life easier for Jason Tatum, Jaylen Brown and the rest of the Celtics, while at the same time making life easier for him.
His goal is to decompress the stars and add his own flair to complement what is already there. When asked about the idea that he could be the missing piece to put Boston over the top, he smiled and eagerly explained his vision.
“Those fires that I got from that idea are going to burn me for the rest of the summer and my time here,” said Porcingis.
Porzingis called it a “very easy” decision to come to Boston and said he was happy to play for a “historic” and “iconic” franchise. After his career season begins, he said he is entering his prime and expects his best years to come in the near future.
He said that the trade helped him realize how much he missed playing on a big stage like he did with NixAs a rookie in the NBA, he probably wasn’t quite ready for the limelight. Porcingis added that he’s grown up a lot since then. New York, he said, prepared him for almost anything.
How motivating is it for the Celtics to see her as the piece that puts them over the top?
Kristaps Porziņģis: “It’s the most exciting feeling you can get” pic.twitter.com/YbOHQHGvYh
– Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (NBCSCeltics) June 29, 2023
While the talent on the list is clear, Porzingis acknowledged that it may take some time to find the chemistry to land. However, he expected it to come.
When asked if he was ready to perform in the playoffs, he gave a refreshingly honest answer.
“Who do you know?” Porzingis said. “But I will do everything I can to help this team. I’ve had a taste of it, and I know what it’s like.”
He understands that his role extends beyond the court, too. After his press conference, Porzingis spent time with Ukrainian basketball players who have been displaced in Latvia since the war began and are visiting Massachusetts.
Meanwhile, Mazzola is keen to incorporate Porzingis in a variety of ways. Highlight his versatility and note how he can play comfortably outside the 3-point line and at the edge.
He said he told Marcus Smart that he loved and appreciated him. The idea is not to replace SMART. this is not possible. It is to incorporate Porzingis and find ways to maximize relevancy.
“I think Kristaps will make our team better, and I think it will make our locker room better too,” Mazzola said.
The Celtics, meanwhile, are “delighted to have Porcingis,” Stephens said, and confirmed that it may not be done yet. The goal is not to accumulate as much talent as possible, but instead to find “highlighters” who align well with what is already out there.
“We’re really lucky,” Stevens said. “We have the green light to continue adding.”