A recovery like no other for Kristaps Porzingis
“Honestly, I don’t care about these guys!” » Like this Kristaps Porzingis, apparently ironically, he commented on the arrival of the Celtics in San Francisco on his first in a Warriors jersey. Coincidentally with the calendar, the Latvian returned to the competition and started in new colors against his former teammates.
“I wouldn’t say there’s a particular excess of intensity,” he explained before the match. “Of course, they are my brothers for life. But eventually we will go out on the field and fight. I will try to kill them and they will try to kill me. Obviously I am exaggerating… But we will play hard and it will be fun to face my former teammates. What is certain is that they know me perfectly.”
Upon arrival, The warriors learned their lesson 36 minutes, before waking up in the last quarter. Kristaps Porzingis was limited to 17 minutes for recovery, time to score 12 points, and he would like to play more.
“I would like to extend my playing time as soon as possible” he demands. “And tonight I would like to play longer… Even if I’m exhausted on the field, I still want to push myself. But I know I have to go step by step. I hope to add a few minutes in the next match…”
Recomposed doublet Horford – Porzingis
Lagging behind in defense on rotations, the Latvian was quite confident in his form, and he himself was relieved after a few weeks without playing. “I want to find the perfect physical condition to be able to play without half a second delay, simply to be at the right moment”he continues. “I want to be quick and lively on my feet. The shot wasn’t perfect, a few shots were a little short. Those are things that take a little time to get back into a good rhythm.”
The same satisfaction from Steve Kerr, who juggles a lot between the absence of Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler, but also the integration of young people, and therefore his main recruit. “The first match with a new team is always difficult”, reminds the coach. “We don’t know our teammates. We still don’t have a sense of what’s going on. But between the first half and the second half I thought he was more comfortable and fit into the match better.”
Analysis confirmed by the player. “Really, as the match went on, things got better and better… That’s the first step to continue building. I had a few chances, a few turnovers. I think it’s just a matter of time to get back into a better rhythm from now on.”
To help him in this rise to power, he has a partner of choice: Al Horford. The two played together on the Celtics, and here they are reunited in Golden State. “I think he will continue to improve, find his feet and be able to play more”concludes the Dominican. “And we will see a real KP there. For the first match after such a long absence, he really did a good job.”
| Kristaps Porzingis | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saison | The team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | LF | Off | Def | That | Pd | Ft | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2015-16 | NI | 72 | 28:26 | 42.1 | 33.3 | 83.8 | 1.8 | 5.5 | 7.3 | 1.3 | 2.8 | 0.7 | 1.7 | 1.9 | 14.3 |
| 2016-17 | NI | 66 | 33:15 | 45.0 | 35.7 | 78.6 | 1.7 | 5.5 | 7.2 | 1.5 | 3.7 | 0.7 | 1.8 | 2.0 | 18.1 |
| 2017-18 | NI | 48 | 32:21 | 43.9 | 39.5 | 79.3 | 1.3 | 5.3 | 6.6 | 1.2 | 2.9 | 0.8 | 1.9 | 2.4 | 22.7 |
| 2019-20 | DAL | 57 | 31:49 | 42.7 | 35.2 | 79.9 | 1.8 | 7.7 | 9.5 | 1.8 | 3.2 | 0.7 | 1.6 | 2.0 | 20.4 |
| 2020-21 | DAL | 43 | 30:52 | 47.6 | 37.6 | 85.5 | 1.9 | 7.0 | 8.9 | 1.6 | 2.7 | 0.5 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 20.1 |
| 2021-22 | DAL | 34 | 29:28 | 45.1 | 28.3 | 86.5 | 1.9 | 5.8 | 7.7 | 2.0 | 2.6 | 0.7 | 1.6 | 1.7 | 19.2 |
| 2021-22 | YOU | 17 | 28:11 | 47.5 | 36.7 | 87.1 | 2.2 | 6.6 | 8.8 | 2.9 | 2.9 | 0.7 | 1.6 | 1.5 | 22.1 |
| 2022-23 | YOU | 65 | 32:37 | 49.8 | 38.5 | 85.1 | 1.8 | 6.6 | 8.4 | 2.7 | 3.0 | 0.9 | 2.1 | 1.5 | 23.2 |
| 2023-24 | BOS | 57 | 29:39 | 51.6 | 37.5 | 85.8 | 1.7 | 5.5 | 7.2 | 2.0 | 2.7 | 0.7 | 1.6 | 1.9 | 20.1 |
| 2024-25 | BOS | 42 | 28:49 | 48.3 | 41.2 | 80.9 | 1.6 | 5.1 | 6.8 | 2.1 | 2.8 | 0.7 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 19.5 |
| 2025-26 | ATL | 17 | 24:18 | 45.7 | 36.0 | 84.0 | 1.2 | 3.9 | 5.1 | 2.7 | 3.2 | 0.5 | 0.9 | 1.3 | 17.1 |
How to read statistics? MJ = matches played; Min = Minute; Shots = Shots Successful / Shots Attempted; 3 points = 3 points / attempt 3 points; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive jump; Tot = Total number of jumps; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal mistakes; Int = intercepts; Bp = lost balls; Ct: Against; Points = Points.
2026-02-20 09:18:00
