Kofi Inkoom
Kristaps Porzingis, who was recently signed by Boston, is facing an injury that might prevent him from playing in the FIBA World Cup 2023 which starts in barely two weeks.
The Boston Celtics will apparently play a significant role in deciding whether he’ll join Latvia’s team for the tournament, as per Rupert Fabig from Hamburger Abendblatt.
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
When a fan questioned Fabig’s tweet on X, he clarified by saying that the injury doesn’t seem too serious since they’re still discussing the possibility of Porzingis playing in the FIBA World Cup.
This is somewhat reassuring news for Celtics fans, as they wouldn’t want a situation like what happened to Danilo Gallinari.
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Gallinari’s left ACL injury during a FIBA World Cup qualifier in September 2022 led to him missing the entire 2022-23 season.
Earlier in the summer, Porzingis was part of a significant three-team trade and agreed to a two-year contract extension reportedly worth about $60 million.
Standing at 7 feet 3 inches, Porzingis has faced challenges due to injuries and has switched between three different teams since 2019, when he was traded from New York to Dallas.
However, the Celtics offer a fresh start for the nearly 28-year-old center. He’s coming off what could be considered the best season of his career, with impressive averages of 23.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game while playing for the Wizards.
READ ALSO : Celtics’ Potential Championship Contenders With Porzingis Signing.
With his new role on the Boston team, the “Unicorn” (Porzingis) has the potential to contribute significantly towards the pursuit of a championship.
If he maintains a similar level of performance as he did last season, there’s a chance he could secure a spot in the All-Star lineup for the first time since 2018. Moreover, his impressive play might even put him in the conversation for a spot on the All-NBA First Team.