Kristaps Porzingis has finally been diagnosed with an illness that’s been troubling him since March.
Brad Stevens, the president of Celtics basketball operations, shared during postseason media sessions that Porzingis is dealing with “post-viral syndrome.”
Stevens remarked that continuing to play this season hasn’t aided Porzingis’ recovery, but he believes the center will make a full recovery.
The Celtics are optimistic that Porzingis will be able to participate in the Eurobasket Biennale Tournament in Latvia this August.
Throughout the latter part of the season, Porzingis frequently missed games due to this mysterious illness. In Game 5 against the Knicks, Celtics coach Joe Mazzola had to sit him for much of the match since he “couldn’t take a breath” during the defeat to his former team.
Initially, Porzingis sat out eight games in March while recovering from what was described as a “non-existent disease.” By the time the playoffs started in May, he appeared out of sorts.
Even when he was on the court, his performance was lacking.
In the playoffs, the former Knick averaged just 20.9 minutes over two rounds and managed only 7.9 points per game, often looking out of place.
In six games against the Knicks, the 7-foot-2 center averaged 4.2 points and 3.7 rebounds in 15.5 minutes, frequently being benched as Boston struggled for scoring and reliable defense.
Now, the Celtics face a challenging offseason, especially following star Jason Tatum’s torn Achilles, which will keep him out for the entire 2025-26 season.
With a staggering $261.9 million already allocated to their 2025 salary cap, the Celtics may need to explore cost-cutting measures.
If they don’t adjust their payroll, the new ownership group is projected to incur a luxury tax bill of $238 million, in addition to existing commitments.
Porzingis might be a player on the move this offseason, but it’s uncertain what his trade value will look like coming off this season.
