Golden State Warriors center Kristaps Porzingis (7) reacts after scoring against the Chicago Bulls during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, March 10, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Golden State Warriors center Kristaps Porzingis (7) reacts after scoring against the Chicago Bulls during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, March 10, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
BOSTON – Speaking to a gaggle of mostly Boston media in the familiar setting of TD Garden during Wednesday’s shootaround, current Warrior and former Celtic Kristaps Porzingis spent around 10 minutes discussing the emotions around his return, clearing the air about his health, before Golden State faced Boston.
He did not expect to shed tears during the Celtics’ planned tribute video. However, Porzingis made sure to emphasize that he was thrilled to be back in Beantown.
“It feels good to be back,” Porzingis said. “Good memories … it’s weird, but it’s a good feeling being back.”
Porzingis spent two seasons wearing the Celtics’ famous green and white and was a pivotal part of Boston’s 2022 title team.
His finest moment came in Game 1 of the Finals, when he came off the bench and scored 20 in the series-opening victory after missing over a month.
“Basketball was pretty stressful here, I’m not going to lie, but it comes with the territory,” Porzingis admitted during Wednesday’s shootaround. “We wanted to win it all, and we did it. I’d say the whole package was special.”
But as has been the case at each of his six stops during his 10-year NBA career, injuries and illness haunted Porzingis’ time in Boston.
After dealing with a prolonged illness that rendered him ineffective down the stretch of last season, the Celtics’ doctors diagnosed the center with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, thus explaining his chronic fatigue and other symptoms typically associated with the incurable condition.
“It was super annoying, honestly, super annoying,” Porzingis said. “Usually I’m sick for two days, then you’re fine. It was like for a week, I was like what’s going on. It kept lingering and my system couldn’t fully recover. It was super annoying and super frustrating, and then the playoffs was the cherry on top.”
The Celtics dealt Porzingis to Atlanta during the offseason, shedding his $30 million yearly salary. He only played 17 games for the Hawks before the Warriors traded Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield to Atlanta for his services.
Porzingis actually made his Warriors debut against the Celtics at Chase Center, but then missed the next two weeks with what Kerr called a “mysterious” illness.
It was another frustrating setback in a career that has so many of them.
“Obviously this season has been pretty (expletive), you know,” Porzingis said. “But now I’m healthy and feeling pretty good. I’m getting a real good feeling about basketball again, which is the most important. Because everything else goes into second place when you’re not feeling perfect, it’s just natural to feel that way.”
Even when Porzingis was struggling, he did everything he could to make sure that negative thoughts – “could he continue his career with that condition?” – did not overtake his psyche.
“I didn’t want to put those kinds of ideas in my head, just even in general, for life, I don’t want to be 60% of my energy, I don’t want to live this way,” Porzingis said. “Eventually, I’ll figure out a way to feel how I want to feel, or at least close to that.”
Porzingis was adamant his health is now under control.
“Now, when I’m actually getting my legs back and getting into good shape, it’s a good reminder of why I love this, and I’m just enjoying playing again,” Porzingis said.
Since returning, he has looked stellar in five games, missing only two because of their status as part of back-to-backs.
Bringing an isolation and post-up scoring element missing from the lineup with the absences of Steph Curry and Jimmy Butler, he is averaging 17.6 points in just 21.6 minutes per game.
Off the court, he has already grown to enjoy his new home.
“California and the weather is very nice,” Porzingis said. “San Francisco is a beautiful city, and I don’t know if it’s a correct comparison, but it reminds me of Boston. It’s very walkable like Boston, and it’s compact in a way, like Boston.”
As part of a team fighting for a spot in the playoffs, Porzingis was adamant that his focus was only on thriving in the Bay Area.
But as an unrestricted free agent this summer, he did not rule out the possibility of a return to Boston.
“We’ll see what the future holds, and one thing for sure is that I miss this place a little bit,” Porzingis said.
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