Latvia’s first ever FIBA World Cup appearance will have to go on without superstar Kristaps Porzingis.
Considered questionable for the tournament following somewhat conflicting reports on his health, Porzingis took to Twitter on Tuesday to confirm that he will indeed miss the 2023 FIBA World Cup, which will begin later this month.
Ir grūti, es jūtos ļoti atbildīgs savu un Latvijas valstsvienības atbalstītāju priekšā, taču ir pieņemts lēmums, ka es nespēlēšu Pasaules kausā.
— Kristaps Porzingis (@kporzee) August 15, 2023
Pēc vairāku nedēļu atlabšanas procesa un atkārtota MRI izmeklējuma, vēl joprojām pēdas plantārais fascīts man neļauj atrasties uz… pic.twitter.com/mvyk4Dj8lU
“It is difficult, I feel very responsible to myself and the supporters of the Latvian national team, but a decision has been made that I will not play in the World Cup,” Porzingis tweeted (via Google Translate). “After several weeks of recovery and a repeat MRI examination, the plantar fasciitis of my foot still prevents me from being on the field in full readiness. This joint decision has been made by both the medical staff and coaching staff of the national team, as well as the Celtics team – with the advice and opinion that it is now necessary to continue the recovery process.
“Such a decision is not easy to make, but I promise that I will be there and support the team as much as I can.”
The statement from Porzingis also came with the confirmation that it is indeed a foot injury limiting the 7-foot-3 big, and with plantar fasciitis being the official diagnosis.
Following up on the tweet from Porzingis, the Celtics released their own statement on the situation Wednesday morning, and provided their own timeline when it comes to their big, new addition being back at 100 percent.
Dec 27, 2021; Portland, Oregon, USA; Dallas Mavericks center Kristaps Porzingis (6) warms up prior to a game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center. (Soobum Im/USA TODAY Sports)
The injury should not be considered a season-derailing one for the 27-year-old Porzingis, but it’s still fair to assume that the Celtics absolutely begged — if not demanded — that Porzingis not participate in this tournament at less than 100 percent and open the door to worsening his status ahead of the 2023-24 NBA season. (Their experience with Danilo Gallinari last year only solidified their thinking or insistence on this front, you’d imagine.)
The Celtics are also leaning on Porzingis as a major piece of their puzzle in 2023-24, as he’s by all means the new No. 3 behind Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown following the three-way trade between the C’s, Wizards, and Grizzlies.
The Celtics also made a $60 million investment in Porzingis before even seeing him take the court in a Celtic jersey.
WASHINGTON, DC – NOVEMBER 28: Kristaps Porzingis #6 of the Washington Wizards celebrates against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Capital One Arena on November 28, 2022 in Washington, DC. (Rob Carr/Getty Images)
Porzingis is coming to Boston on the heels of a career-year in Washington, with a career-high in both points per game (23.2 points per game) and field goal percentage (49.8 percent). Porzingis also shot 38.5 percent from beyond the arc this past season, which was his second-best single season average (trailing only a 39.5 percent mark with the Knicks in 2017-18), and averaged 8.4 rebounds per game (his fourth-best single-season average and his fourth season of at least eight boards per game). His 2.7 assists per game were his second-best single-season average, too.
The Latvian big man was also one of just three players to average at least 20 points, eight rebounds, and one block during the 2022-23 season, joining the Lakers’ Anthony Davis and Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid on that list.
But the injury that’ll keep ‘KP’ out of the 2023 FIBA World Cup will certainly be worth watching once the Celtics report for the upcoming season, as Porzingis has battled injuries throughout his NBA career and played at least 70 games just once in his eight-year NBA career.
