Kristaps Porzingis
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The Golden State Warriors acquired Kristaps Porzingis from the Atlanta Hawks.
For the first time since getting traded to the Golden State Warriors, Kristaps Porzingis has broken his silence about the latest chapter of his career. Porzingis also made his feelings clear about teaming up with Steph Curry once they are both ready to return from their respective injuries.
Speaking to reporters in his first press conference as part of the Warriors on Saturday, Porzingis answered a bunch of questions. One of those questions was about playing with Curry, who is still among the elite players in the NBA at the age of 37.
“I’ve been a huge fan of Steph for a long time,” Porzingis said. “He knows this, like I always like to try to say what’s up to him after the game. Just watching him from outside, he’s unreal. So to play along some alongside somebody like that will be really cool, and I think it brings the level up for everybody when you have somebody like that on your team. Special, special player (who) just makes everybody greater.”
Porzingis has only played 17 games this season due to a combination of his illness, called postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, and left Achilles tendinitis.
Steph, on the other hand, has missed the team’s last three games because of a right knee issue, which the team is describing as patellofemoral pain syndrome or a runner’s knee.
What Did Curry Say About Porzingis?
Before Kristaps Porzingis faced the Bay Area media, Steph Curry had already discussed the Warriors’ acquisition of the one-time NBA champion.
Curry was happy that the front office did something at the trade deadline, though he would have preferred if Jimmy Butler were healthy.
“Deadline is always tricky because you are trying to make the right appropriate move and then everything is obviously in the context of Jimmy’s injury and what’s possible,” Curry told ESPN’s Anthony Slater. “I’m excited with what KP can bring. You saw the fight tonight. We’ll learn each other as we go.”
Butler suffered a season-ending right knee injury on January 19 against his former team, the Miami Heat. He is set to undergo surgery on February 9 in Los Angeles, with the procedure being done by Dr. Bert Mendelbaum, as reported by The Athletic’s Nick Friedell.
Porzingis’ Warriors Debut
Kristaps Porzingis hasn’t played since January 7 against the New Orleans Pelicans. The Warriors fanbase is eager to see him on the court, but they will have to wait for more time before Porzingis makes his debut for the franchise.
According to ESPN’s Anthony Slater, coach Steve Kerr is planning to work with Porzingis during the All-Star break before possibly making a decision on his debut.
If everything goes well, the one-time All-Star could play his first game in Warriors colors on February 19 against his former team, the Boston Celtics, at the Chase Center.
Porzingis helped the Celtics win the 2024 NBA championship before the franchise traded him to the Atlanta Hawks this past offseason. In 17 games in Atlanta, KP averaged 17.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.3 blocks, with shooting splits of 46/36/84.