Kristaps Porzingis dealt with 'post-viral syndrome' during NBA playoffs, said Celtics president Brad Stevens
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens addressed Porzingis' illness and what that might portend for the offseason and next season.
Advertisement
"I don't think anyone was more frustrated than him," Stevens explained. "And I felt for him because the way it was described to me was just post-viral syndrome, which is just lingering effects of a long illness."
The Celtics described Porzingis' condition as an upper respiratory and non-COVID illness during the Eastern Conference semifinals series with the New York Knicks. The veteran center played 13 minutes in Game 1 and 12 minutes in Game 5, with coach Joe Mazzulla saying afterward that Porzingis didn't play in the second half because "he couldn't breathe."
In the six-game playoff loss to the Knicks, Porzingis averaged 4.2 points, 3.7 rebounds and 0.8 blocks while playing 15.5 minutes per game. He was able to contribute more in Boston's first-round series versus the Orlando Magic, averaging 12 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.8 blocks and 27.4 minutes.
Advertisement
Those numbers were far below the 19.5 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.5 blocks Porzingis averaged during the regular season with 41% shooting on 250 3-point attempts. However, he appeared in only 42 games while recovering from ankle surgery, then struggling with his illness that sidelined him for eight games in late February through early March.
Stevens said he thought Porzingis had "turned a corner" in his recovery and cited his 34-point performance against the Knicks in the second-to-last game of the regular season. Yet the demanding playoff schedule likely prevented him from being able to rest and recover further, which also applied to Jaylen Brown and the torn meniscus he was playing through.
Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon would likely agree with that point, expressing the same concern after Sunday's Game 7 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
"A travel day and a recovery day, just two days, I think the product of the game would be a lot better," Gordon said. "Just to give all these professional athletes just one more day of rest, and you would see a higher level of basketball. Probably less blowouts."
Advertisement
However, the Celtics don't appear to be worried about Porzingis making a full recovery during the offseason. Stevens said during his presser that the 7-footer is expected to play for Latvia in the FIBA Eurobasket tournament, scheduled from Aug. 27 to Sept. 14.
Porzingis is under contract for one more season at $30.7 million, finishing off the two-year, $60 million extension he signed after the Celtics acquired him before the 2023-24 season.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Forbes
a few seconds ago
- Forbes
The New York Knicks Hit A Home Run With This Offseason Move
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JANUARY 15: Guerschon Yabusele #28 of the Philadelphia 76ers talks to ... More Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks at the Wells Fargo Center on January 15, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Knicks defeated the 76ers 125-119 in overtime. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by) I know it has been nearly a month since it happened, but I still cannot stop thinking about how great an addition it was for the New York Knicks to sign Guerschon Yabusele. We'll get to the specifics in just a moment. But here is the short of it: he addresses one of their most pressing issues, helps bolster a strategy that worked well for them last postseason, and came to them at an absolute bargain compared to his actual production. Yabusele Gives The Knicks Bench Some Much Needed Depth While it turned out that their bench wasn't as terrible as Tom Thibodeau's Machiavellian treatment of the starters would suggest, they still didn't have much bite once the starters left the floor. Last season, the Knicks ranked dead-last in bench points per game, and based on the chart below, it wasn't even close: Yabusele will step in and immediately become their bullpen's best reliever. According to Estimated Plus-Minus (arguably the best one-number metric on the market because it incorporates tracking data), Yabusele placed in the 84th percentile in the entire league on the offensive side of the ball (per Dunks & Threes). That ranks higher than any non-starter from last year's Knicks team. Heck, that ranks higher than everyone not named Jalen Brunson or Karl-Anthony Towns. Yabusele Lets The Knicks Play More Double Big Lineups One of the biggest leaguewide storylines from last season was the re-emergence of double big lineups. All across the league, teams were having success with two titans in the frontcourt. The Knicks were not immune to this trend, as they posted a net rating of +8.3 in the 165 minutes that Towns and Mitchell Robinson shared the floor (per PBP Stats). For those who aren't hyper familiar with Yabusele's game, he is like the Diet Coke version of Towns. He's a big man who can hit triples (38%), put the ball on the floor (97th percentile true shooting on drives, per and offer some playmaking/passing (52nd percentile Passer Rating). Even a lesser version of this player archetype is incredibly valuable because it allows your team to go double big alongside a traditional center (i.e., Robinson) without sacrificing floor spacing. Yabusele gives the Knicks another key to unlocking their best lineup. Now, the Knicks have more lineup versatility/flexibility in the event that one of Towns/Robinson is injured or gets into foul trouble. Yabusele's Contract Is A Steal For The Knicks Yabusele signed with the Knicks for a little less than the full taxpayer mid-level exception. To be exact, his average annual value (AAV) over the next two years will be 5.6 million dollars (per Spotrac). However, based on my formula for estimating production value, if Yabusele can emulate his numbers from 2024-25, he will be worth roughly 14.1 million dollars in 2025-26. That difference of 8.5 million dollars makes him one of the five best value signings of the offseason thus far (to see the rest of those contracts, be sure to check out this link here). With most of their assets tied up in their formidable starting five, the Knicks faced a nearly impossible mission: trying to improve a bench with limited resources to do so. To be fair, the job still isn't finished (insert Kobe Bryant snippet). The Knicks could use one more two-way wing to complete their ten-man rotation (they would do well to re-sign Landry Shamet or sign Amir Coffey). But if this does end up being it for them, the Knicks did a great job adding a perfect-fitting piece to a team that came two wins away from the NBA Finals.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Knicks Reportedly Not Interested In LeBron James, Believe Roster Is Already Set
Knicks Reportedly Not Interested In LeBron James, Believe Roster Is Already Set originally appeared on Fadeaway World. The New York Knicks have reportedly taken a firm stance on the LeBron James rumors, and it's a hard pass. According to Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated, the Knicks are content with their roster heading into the 2025–26 season and are not looking to shake things up by bringing in a 41-year-old superstar, no matter how legendary he may be. 'I don't think the Knicks have an interest in LeBron James,' Mannix said on Sports Illustrated's YouTube channel. 'The Knicks are pretty happy with what they did this offseason. They're happy with what they got from Mike Brown. Mike Brown's been a big hit in Vegas, like, big hit. They love the Jordan Clarkson addition. They love the Guerschon Yabusele addition." "They think they've got a rotation that's nine or 10 deep right now. Like, they're not looking to shake that up. Not in a conference, they think they can win with this group.' That statement is particularly bold considering LeBron was rumored to have had the Knicks on his short list, along with the Mavericks, Cavaliers, Clippers, and Warriors, if he were to push for a trade or buyout. LeBron opted into his $52.6 million player option for the 2025–26 season, sparking immediate speculation about a potential move. But the Knicks don't appear to be biting. In theory, a trade could have been worked out. New York has the pieces, OG Anunoby, Josh Hart, and a combination of other assets could have formed the foundation of a deal. They even have a coach in Mike Brown who has a past relationship with LeBron, dating back to their time together in Cleveland. But the Knicks are thinking long-term. They just made the Eastern Conference Finals with a young and talented core that includes Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, and Josh Hart. They've built depth, added shooting, and addressed playmaking. They believe this group is ready to contend, and with the East now wide open after devastating Achilles injuries to Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton, their belief is not unfounded. Bringing in LeBron at this stage could complicate that plan. While James is still a top-tier player and can swing a playoff series, he's also on what could be his final NBA contract. His presence would demand a system shift, a media circus, and possibly a year or two of win-now moves that compromise the long-term balance New York has carefully constructed. When he leaves, the Knicks would be forced to chase another superstar just to maintain relevance. That's not the position the Knicks want to be in. Right now, they have chemistry, youth, and a sense of continuity. While a potential LeBron move might be revisited later if the season goes sideways or Bronny James becomes a tradeable asset, the message from the front office is clear: the Knicks aren't interested in chasing ghosts. They believe the future is already story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Jul 19, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Which summer league standouts will the Boston Celtics lean on in the regular season?
Which Las Vegas Summer League standouts will the Boston Celtics lean on in the NBA's 2025-26 regular season? The Sin City Celtics were a deep squad this year, and the players from the Summer Celtics still in Boston's orbit at this late date in the 2025 offseason have a shot at making some waves with real run at the NBA level if they make the most of the opportunities in front of them. Boston's three picks from the 2025 NBA Draft -- Hugo Gonzalez, Max Shulga, and Amari Williams -- will all likely see at least a little run with the parent club this coming campaign with some luck. And we ought to expect some real minutes for summer league vets Baylor Scheierman and Jordan Walsh. The folks behind the "NESN" YouTube channel put together a clip from their "Hold My Banner" show that took some time on a recent episode to talk it over. Take a look at the clip embedded below to hear what they had to say about which summer league standouts ought to be worth following for Boston fans this season. Listen to "Havlicek Stole the Pod" on: Spotify: iTunes: YouTube: This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Which summer league standouts will the Celtics lean on in the regular season?
