Now-former Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis looks ready to return to the hardwood this summer. The big man shared a photo of himself and his Latvian teammates posing for their team photo ahead of this summer’s EuroBasket competition.
Kristaps Porzingis will finally get to suit up for the Latvian men's basketball team this summer. A foot injury previously denied him that opportunity.
— Bobby Krivitsky (@BobbyKrivitsky) July 27, 2025
Now healthy and seemingly having put the lingering effects of post-viral syndrome behind him, playing at EuroBasket is both a… pic.twitter.com/sEzIyFtvr5
It seems like he won’t suffer the same fate as the last time the competition was held.
Shortly after being traded to Boston in 2023, Porzingis had to miss EuroBasket with a case of plantar fasciitis. Though a lingering illness took a toll on KP during the 2025 playoffs and his final chapter with the Celtics, he appears to have overcome it in time to return to the national team.
Representing Latvia has always been important to Porzingis, despite what many have speculated.
"Whether I want to play for the national team or not – that's a silly question," Porzingis said in an interview back in April. "The past few summers didn't work out because I was injured. I've never refused the national team. When I haven't played, it's because of injuries."
Now, he’ll get to deliver on his promise and compete with Europe’s best, before ramping up for his first season with the Atlanta Hawks.
"This summer, I'll be there! Health is the main thing – then everything else will follow."
Though his value could go up at EuroBasket, the Celtics probably still traded Porzingis at the right time
Porzingis’ time with the Celtics seemed over throughout the second half of the 2024-25 season, regardless of what happened in the spring. The harsh second-apron penalties that the team would face made it nearly impossible for them to keep their core together for another year. Offloading KP’s $30 million salary was always going to be one of the essential steps in diving below the second-apron threshold.
Those circumstances made EuroBasket all the more interesting heading into this offseason. Before Porzingis was traded to Atlanta for Georges Niang, many felt the tournament was an opportunity for the 29-year-old to revitalize his trade value after his poor, illness-infused showing in the playoffs. He averaged just 7.7 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 0.8 blocks per game on a rough 31.6% from the field and 15.4% from beyond the arc.
Now, it feels like the tournament may serve as a point of regret for the Celtics. Not to say that they wouldn’t have traded Porzingis if he looked great in the Euros, but maybe they could’ve gotten more in return for him. Even if it was still a move where they primarily wanted to clear cap space, perhaps more draft capital could’ve come their way in a hypothetical deal, had they been patient. However, picks helped grease the wheels in last month’s actual trade, just with the Hawks sending them to the Brooklyn Nets to motivate them to help make the financials work.
Could Boston have gotten more for the former All-Star? Maybe, but we’ll ultimately never know.
Though he isn't the most-exciting player, Niang is still someone who can contribute to winning. The Massachussetts native has only shot below 40% from three in one of his nine seasons as a pro. His knockdown shooting ability, paired with his gritty motor on defense may make him a fan favorite at TD Garden who is viewed as an ample return for Porzingis, whose availability was just never at the level where it needed to be.