Boston Celtics get key update on star forward’s injury
By Sam LaFrance
Boston Celtics fans can officially breathe. On Thursday morning, the Latvian Basketball Union cleared the air on rumblings that Kristaps Porzingis was battling a foot injury, which could’ve possibly kept him out of the FIBA World Cup.
“There has been information that questions the participation of Kristaps Porzingis in the FIBA World Cup. LBS denies this information,” the team’s account tweeted (translated from Latvian). “Both the players’ individual preparation plans and the team’s overall training process are ongoing. The line-up for the match against the Dominican Republic will be announced on August 12.”
Izskanējusi informācija, kas apšauba Kristapa Porziņģa piedalīšanos FIBA Pasaules kausa izcīņā. LBS šo informāciju noliedz.
— Latvijas Basketbola savienība (@basketbols) August 10, 2023
Norit gan spēlētāju individuālie sagatavošanās plāni, gan komandas kopējais treniņu process. Sastāvs spēlei ar Dominikānu tiks paziņots 12. augustā. pic.twitter.com/pntY6JBjhH
Report raised injury concerns regarding Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis
The Union’s tweet was posted in response to a report that surfaced on Wednesday afternoon. Basketball in Deutschland’s Rupert Fabig shared that he’d gotten information that indicated that the Latvian may miss the World Cup due to a foot injury.
“Kristaps Porzingis might miss the [FIBA World Cup] due to injury,” Fabig tweeted. “Understood it is something with his foot. Staff, himself and Boston Celtics will wait until the last moment to make a decision.”
Exclusive: According to my information there are growing concerns that Latvia star Kristaps #Porzingis might miss the #FIBAWC due to injury. Understood it is something with his foot. Staff, himself and Boston #Celtics will wait until the last moment to make a decision. pic.twitter.com/YIkIz6coTo
— Rupert Fabig (@rupertfabig) August 9, 2023
Boston acquired Porzingis back in June as part of a three-team trade with the Washington Wizards and Memphis Grizzlies. One of the main concerns from Celtics fans when the move was announced was Porzingis’ history with injuries.
According to Forbes Magazine, the 28-year-old has missed 37% of his potential games as a pro, since entering the league in 2015.
However, fans should be feeling good about the season he just had. Porzingis suited up 65 times last season for the Wizards — the third-healthiest campaign of his career. He was great when he played, averaging a career-high 23.2 points per game, while shooting 49.8% from the field and 38.5% from beyond the arc.
Porzingis’ health will be key to Boston’s title hopes for not only this season but the following two as well. Shortly after his trade, he inked a two-year, $60 million contract extension to remain with the Celtics through the 2025-26 season.