The Golden State Warriors have added Kristaps Porzingis via trade
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The Golden State Warriors have added Kristaps Porzingis via trade
The Golden State Warriors are paying a visit to the Boston Celtics on Wednesday, March 18.
Just last season, Warriors’ big man Kristaps Porzingis was suited up for the Celtics, looking to snag another NBA title with the team.
While Porzingis is an opponent in Boston this time around, he’s not just another one. Heading into the game, the veteran center figured it wouldn’t feel like a typical road game.
Seeing as though he spent multiple seasons with the Celtics and won his first and only championship there, Porzingis had a different feeling. When asked if he thought emotions would be high, he answered honestly.
Kristaps Porzingis Gets Honest On Emotions Going Into Warriors-Celtics
Kristaps Porzingis, Boston Celtics
Photo by Elsa/Getty ImagesKristaps Porzingis played for the Boston Celtics before his journey with the Golden State Warriors.
“I don’t know [if I’ll get emotional]. Not in the middle of the game,” Porzingis told reporters with a smile.
“For sure, you know, some good memories. Let’s see.. Let’s see. Honestly, just thinking about it now, I got a good feeling. Obviously, loved my time here so much. Let’s see how tonight goes.”
With the Warriors dealing with many injuries on the roster, Porzingis had a chance to start in Wednesday’s matchup.
During the first half, Porzingis had a moment with the crowd. He smiled as he received support from Boston fans and his teammates. Shortly after, he locked back into what the Warriors were discussing during the timeout.
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Celtics fans showing love to Kristaps Porzingis. 🙌👏
Porzingis’ Journey To Boston And Beyond
In 2015, Porzingis was one of the top prospects in the NBA Draft.
Despite not coming from the NCAA, the Latvian superstar was gaining top-5 interest. He ended up getting selected fourth overall by the New York Knicks in the draft.
Porzingis spent the first three seasons of his career with the Knicks. He posted averages of 17.8 points and 7.1 rebounds there during his run.
In year three, Porzingis was an NBA All-Star for the first time. It ended up being his only time.
Health concerns would haunt the veteran front court player throughout his time in the NBA, and it started early on. The Knicks cut ties with Porzingis, sending him to the Dallas Mavericks. The stint with the Mavs would last three seasons (134 games).
In 2022, Porzingis was traded to the Washington Wizards. After finishing the 2021-2022 season in DC, Porzingis played a full year in Washington. He averaged 23.2 points and 8.4 rebounds in 65 games. The Celtics managed to strike a deal to land Porzingis, giving them a highly talented front court.
During his first season with the Celtics, Porzingis appeared in 57 games during the regular season. He produced 20.1 points per game, while shooting 51% from the field and 37% from three. In the playoffs, Porzingis appeared in seven games (four starts), producing 12.3 points and 4.4 rebounds per game.
Kristaps Porzingis
GettyKristaps Porzingis during his time with the Boston Celtics.
The Celtics won the NBA Championship in 2024, giving Porzingis one of his top NBA accolades to this date.
The veteran center spent a second season with the Celtics in 2024-2025. In order to reduce costs from a cap standpoint, the Celtics decided to move on from Porzingis during the offsesason. He was sent to the Atlanta Hawks.
Most assumed that Porzingis wouldn’t stay in Atlanta for a long time, and that was the case. He made just 17 appearances with the Hawks. Ahead of the deadline, he was picked up by the Warriors, as they cut ties with their homegrown forward, Jonathan Kuminga.
After his final meeting in Boston this year, Porzingis hopes to build some momentum after getting off to a slow start with the Warriors. Following Wednesday’s game, the Warriors will pay a visit to Michigan to face the Detroit Pistons on Friday, March 18.