Kristaps Porzingis opened up about the physical and mental challenges he faced during last season’s playoffs, where injuries limited his impact for the Boston Celtics.
“You cannot imagine how frustrating it was, you know, to be in the playoffs and not have the gas inside of you that you know you usually have,” Porzingis said, via HoopsHype. “It’s just hard for you, not only physically where you’re pushing yourself, but you don’t have it. It’s so frustrating.”
The 30-year-old forward underwent surgery in June 2024 to repair a retinaculum injury, which kept him sidelined at the start of the 2024–25 season. He returned in November but never fully regained his rhythm before Boston’s postseason run.
Porzingis appeared in 11 playoff games for the Celtics, averaging 7.7 points and 4.6 rebounds while shooting just 31.6 percent from the field. His numbers marked a sharp decline compared to his 19.5 points and 6.8 rebounds per game during the regular season. The Latvian forward was dealing with an illness that had limited him.
Reflecting on his condition, Porzingis emphasized the difficulty of competing without full strength. “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, no? And I kind of took that as, okay, like, I have this problem with my hands now and how can I solve it,” he explained.
This summer, Porzingis played for Latvia in EuroBasket 2025, where he showed flashes of his old form. He averaged 20.2 points and 8.7 rebounds across six games, including a 34-point, 19-rebound performance in the Round of 16 loss to Lithuania.
Despite the early exit, Latvia’s third-place finish in Group B reflected Porzingis’s impact when healthy. He carried much of the offensive load while competing against top European talent.
Now with the Atlanta Hawks following a July trade, Porzingis expressed confidence in his health moving forward. “I’ve been doing things to improve my health, to feel good again. I would say my gas tank is back up there,” he said.
Porzingis also noted that turning 30 gives him an advantage in experience. “I feel like now are the best years for a basketball player to play high-level basketball, where your mental is at a high level, your game, you know how you read the game, is at a high level, and physically also you’re there.”
