Boston Celtics’ forward Kristaps Porzingis will not be participating in the FIBA World Cup due to a foot issue known as plantar fasciitis. Porzingis, who plays for Latvia’s national team, revealed on the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) that he made this decision after consulting with both the Celtics’ and Latvian coaching and medical staffs following an MRI.
In his statement, Porzingis mentioned that this was not an easy decision to make, but he expressed his commitment to supporting his team in any way he can despite not being able to play. He did not provide a specific timeline for his return to basketball, but he indicated that he has already been in recovery for several weeks.
The FIBA World Cup is scheduled to begin on August 25 in Japan, Indonesia, and the Philippines. Porzingis’ absence will certainly impact Latvia’s team dynamics, as plantar fasciitis can often be a lingering issue.
Porzingis was acquired by the Boston Celtics from the Washington Wizards in a three-team trade earlier in June. The trade also involved the Memphis Grizzlies, with the Celtics sending Marcus Smart to the Grizzlies. Standing at 7-foot-3, Porzingis was brought in by the Celtics after they came close to reaching the NBA Finals, and he had a successful season with the Wizards, averaging a career-high 23.2 points and 8.4 rebounds per game.
