One of the biggest moves made in the NBA this offseason was the Boston Celtics acquiring big man Kristaps Porzingis from the Washington Wizards. When healthy, Porzingis is one of the best big men in the league given the impact he can have on both ends of the floor.
Standing 7’3”, he can punish opponents on the offensive side, shooting over them on post-up opportunities when teams have to switch. When he has his man isolated on the perimeter, he is comfortable and capable of knocking down 3-pointers at an impressive clip.
Defensively, Porzingis can really bother opponents with his size and length. He has done a great job of developing his skill set on that end of the court as he is an excellent rim protector, making life difficult for opponents in the paint.
With the Celtics, they have been able to accentuate all of his strengths in the best way possible. He is the third or fourth option offensively, which makes defending Boston nearly impossible. Porzingis has experience being a first and second option, so to have a player of that caliber in a supporting role makes them tough to stop.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Kristaps Porzingis, Boston Celtics Updates
However, that change in role isn’t something that many people, especially of Porzingis’ stature, would be willing to accept. This is a player who was picked No. 4 overall by the New York Knicks as a franchise savior. He was eventually traded to the Dallas Mavericks, where he was expected to be the co-star to Luka Doncic, making their franchise into a contender for years to come.
Neither stop panned out as well as Porzingis or the teams had hoped. There were clashes along the way, but none of that has transpired yet in Boston. During an appearance on J.J. Redick’s podcast, “Old Man & The Three”, he opened up about what made the transition in Boston easier than with previous stops.
“Honestly, it’s not that hard,” he said. “It’s not that hard when you’re past a certain age. I think it when you’re young, you’re like, ‘I’m gonna prove this.’ The older you get, it’s like, ‘I just want to win.’
“It’s not that complicated. There’s some ego involved and all that, but honestly you just have to make it simple and that’s it.”
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Kristaps Porzingis, Boston Celtics Updates
Ego and maturity were a big reason that things didn’t work out, in Porzingis’ opinion, in New York and Dallas. He says there are things he could have done better to make them work, which he now realizes being a little older and more experienced.
In Boston, Porzingis has accepted the role that was presented to him. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are the stars. He and Jrue Holiday are the new complimentary pieces that are expected to help elevate them to that championship level. Accepting that has led to Porzingis fitting in seamlessly with his new team, something that didn’t occur previously in his career.
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