The Atlanta Hawks lost two games in three days against the Toronto Raptors, and not even the return of Kristaps Porzingis helped.
In the second matchup between the Hawks and Raptors, Porzingis finished the game with 9 points (2/12 FG, 1/5 3PT, 4/4 FT), 1 rebound, and 1 assist in 20 minutes of action.
Despite facing potentially uncomfortable questions, including the Trade Young trade rumors and his own future in Atlanta, Porzingis was open and reflective across a wide range of topics.
Losing twice in a row to the same opponent was painful, but as the Latvian joked, this is not Europe, where one loss can feel dramatic and devastating.
For better or worse, in the NBA, there is always another game ahead, making it easier to move on with a next-game mentality.
But Kristaps Porzingis rigorously stays in the moment. The center has learned not to think beyond the present, with his eventful NBA career marked by soaring expectations, injuries, trades that disrupted stability, and now a rare disease.
Porzingis' Talks About His POTS Illness: A Positive Outlook
The Baltic center suffers from Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), a chronic condition that can cause a rapid increase in heart rate when standing.
This disorder can lead to extreme exhaustion and dizziness, and Porzingis experienced a flare-up in mid-December that kept him out for three weeks.
The Latvian got back on the floor against the New York Knicks on Jan. 2 and played his second game after his return in Toronto last Monday, after missing the first game against the Raptors.
"I'm still feeling pretty good," Porzingis told BasketNews when asked about his physical and mental state.
"I'm still working on my way back to top conditioning, but I'm happy with the progress, even though I didn't have the best game rhythm-wise. But at least physically I feel like I'm getting a step forward, which is the most important, and I look forward to building from here on out," the tenth-year veteran said.
The rare disease the Latvian center is dealing with also carries uncertainty, as symptoms can recur.
"I try not to think about it too much," said Porzingis, who just got over the second flare-up of his disease, which manifested in the last stretch of last season for the very first time.
"Obviously, it's frustrating to be dealing with something, but there's nothing I can do about it. I just have to keep working through it, and I've been feeling better with each game, which is the most important. I'm not worrying too much if it can flare up again or not, whatever it is, just taking it one day at a time," the Latvian said.
Porzingis Confirms It's Safe For Him to Play
While the 30-year-old center might see another bout of the disease get in his way, he confirmed it's not anything that threatens to shorten his already long basketball journey.
"Doctors did all the possible testing, they said 'You're safe to play', and that's all I needed to hear. And here I am," Porzingis explained.
Porzingis remains calm in the face of possible adversity because, after all, he has toughened himself navigating abrupt highs and lows in his 10-year NBA career.
The Learning Curve: Porzingis on Overcoming Career Setbacks
More than a unicorn fairytale, Porzingis' story in the NBA has been more about a learning tale about how to navigate through adversity.
"Obviously, you always have these highs and lows throughout your career," Porzingis said. "I think, with age and experience, you just keep moving. Things come and go, and I always take it as something positive."
Credit IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect - Scanpix
"Something happens, and it's an opportunity for me to overcome it. I try to frame it like that in my mind, and I think that has helped me throughout my career. It has only made me mentally stronger," he continued.
Porzingis takes accountability for Atlanta's inconsistency
Porzingis might not be in Atlanta for long. He could see himself packing things up soon, off to the next stop in this NBA journey that has taken him to New York, Dallas, Washington, and Boston before.
The Celtics traded him away to the Hawks last summer, and Atlanta finally obtained its long-sought versatile center.
But the Latvian's contract expires in June, and trade rumours have already begun to swirl.
"I try to take it day by day, not to put too much pressure on myself," said Porzingis, who prefers not to touch on his short-term future as he prefers to take accountability.
"Obviously, I'm not performing. I wouldn't say I'm not performing, but I'm not being the same player I know I can be. But that's a healthy thing, and my main thing is to get healthy, take it one day at a time. I don't put extra pressure on myself. Get healthy one day at a time and then see where I end up. That's going to be my next move," he said.
Kristaps Porzingis is averaging 17.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game in 24.5 minutes, while he is shooting 46% from the field and 34.6% in threes on five attempts.
The Latvian has only been available in 16 of the Hawks' 38 games so far and is averaging his lowest scoring since his second year in the NBA.
As the 30-year-old center tries to reach the best version of himself, the Atlanta Hawks are stuck one more time in the play-in spots, sitting 10th in the Eastern Conference with a 17-21 record overall.
After missing the playoffs for two straight seasons, the Hawks might feel they changed everything only to stay the same.
The franchise fired General Manager Landry Fields and promoted Onsi Saleh.
Then, Atlanta was very aggressive in the offseason, adding not only Porzingis but also all-around wing Nickeil Alexander-Walker and sharpshooter Luke Kennard.
Porzingis on the Hawks' Championship Aspirations
"Of course, our aspiration is to be a championship team. But we haven't shown it yet," the Latvian center said.
"We've had moments and glimpses of really good basketball, fast basketball, high-scoring basketball. But I wouldn't say we're a contending team right now. But we have to have the mindset we will be," said Porzingis before being hard on himself again.
"I feel like a lot of it is also on me. I've maybe not been the same player the team would expect from me, but I'm working my way back. And I want to give the maximum I can to this group, to his organization that brought me in, and see how far we can go. I have the highest expectations for us," the 30-year-old veteran said.
The Hawks handed the franchise keys to Trae Young in the 2018 draft, after the then-bold, now-senseless decision to send Luka Doncic to Dallas for him.
Since a remarkable run to the Conference Finals in 2021, Atlanta has been stuck in mediocrity, with two first-round exits and two eliminations in the regular season.
As Young chills out without saying much and the NBA trade market remains quiet, a big move appears to be brewing to break the chilly winter silence in Eastern America. One of those that causes stir and chills.
Toni Canyameras
Toni Canyameras began his basketball media career in 2021, covering FC Barcelona. He became a fan of the sport thanks to Barça and the Japanese manga series Slam Dunk. Toni moved to Toronto in 2022 and has since been covering the NBA from a European perspective, reporting on games, All-Star weekends, and the Summer League. He holds a degree in Journalism, a Master's Degree in Sports Journalism in Spain, and a Postgraduate in Journalism in Canada.
About author
Like what we are doing? You can express your gratitude here.
If you like our content, please click here and add us as your preferred source. It helps us a lot, and we are committed to delivering you the very latest basketball news.