Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis, who was once expected to be the long-term co-star alongside Luka Doncic in Dallas, has made it clear there is “no ill will” regarding their time together with the Mavericks. As Kristaps Porzingis gears up to face his former team in the NBA Finals, he reminisces on the highs and lows of his stint in Dallas.
The Mavericks executed a major trade to acquire Kristaps Porzingis from the New York Knicks in January 2019, during Doncic’s rookie season. This trade, which saw Dallas taking on Porzingis despite his recovery from a torn ACL, culminates with the Mavericks sending the No. 24 pick in this year’s draft to New York.
The Dallas Experience: Highs and Lows
Kristaps Porzingis, plagued by injuries during his tenure with the Mavericks, averaged 20.0 points and 8.8 rebounds in 134 games. Reflecting on this period, Kristaps Porzingis shared, “Not all of it was not good. We had some good moments.
We had some decent moments, but overall it just didn’t work for both sides. It wasn’t perfect. But I would say everything — teammates, locker room — I know at that time there were some rumors that there was something in the locker room. It was never like that. It was all just noise at the end.”
“It just wasn’t perfect for us playing together, and it didn’t work out. And that’s it. There’s no ill will, I don’t think from their side. For sure, [there is not] from my side. I don’t think there should be. It just didn’t work out, but I have nothing but love for Dallas and for my teammates and for everybody there.”
Kristaps Porzingis’ sentiments reflect a mature understanding of the business and personal dynamics of professional basketball. Despite the struggles and eventual trade to the Washington Wizards at the 2022 deadline, Porzingis remains appreciative of his time with the Mavericks.
Kristaps Porzingis: Challenges and Growth
During his time in Dallas, Kristaps Porzingis acknowledged the difficulty of adjusting to a secondary role as Doncic rapidly rose to superstardom. “I don’t know why it didn’t work out,” Doncic commented, addressing the speculations about their relationship. “We were still both young. We tried to make it work, but it just didn’t work. So we moved on.”
Kristaps Porzingis had hoped that the hiring of Jason Kidd as head coach before the 2021-22 season would mark a fresh start. However, injuries continued to plague his career, leading to his trade to Washington for guard Spencer Dinwiddie and forward Davis Bertans. Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison explained the trade was driven by a need for “depth and flexibility.”
Moving Forward with the Boston Celtics
As Kristaps Porzingis prepares for Game 1 of the NBA Finals after missing the Celtics’ past 10 games due to a calf strain, he remains focused on contributing to his new team. He recognizes the challenge ahead in attempting to limit Doncic, who has been a dominant force throughout the playoffs.
“He’s one of the best players in the league, in the world,” Kristaps Porzingis said. “It will be a tough challenge for us to try to stop him. Just following his career, when he came in the league, he already made a huge impact.
Then I had the opportunity to play with him for a couple of years and get to know him and just knowing the type of person he is, the type of player he is, his mindset — he’s a special player. We have a big challenge ahead of us competing against somebody like that.”
Looking Forward
Despite the ups and downs of his career, Kristaps Porzingis remains positive and forward-looking. His journey from New York to Dallas, and now to Boston, has been marked by growth, resilience, and a deep appreciation for the game and his teammates.
As he takes the court in the NBA Finals, Kristaps Porzingis embodies the spirit of perseverance and the relentless pursuit of excellence.
