Kristaps Porzingis has only been a member of the Boston Celtics for two seasons, but already the big man has built an enduring relationship with the fans at TD Garden. In that time, he's authored a few unforgettable moments on the court, and his connection with the Celtics community runs deeper than basketball.
That connection was on display with Boston's recent home win over the Phoenix Suns. Despite being up big in the fourth quarter, the Celtics were still defending the Suns with physicality and poise, an approach that saw Porzingis catch an elbow right to the nose. This bloody mess required the former All-Star to leave the game to get stitches. As he walked to the tunnel, Porzingis raised his hands in the air with a smile, blood still dripping down his face, and the crowd erupted.
The next afternoon, Porzingis was back in action, signing autographs and taking photos at Boston's historic Quincy Market. There, Celtics Wire caught up with Porzingis to talk about his relationship with the city, with Celtics fans, and with his team.
“Honestly, all these moments I just go with the flow, I freestyle,” Porzingis said of his bloody exit from the game the night before. “With that moment, my teammates were messing with me because I love UFC, so me getting hit in the face, it was an inside joke almost. I was joking with my teammates first and the crowd reacted to it, and I embraced that energy, and it was a cool, fun moment.”
Porzingis has been a spark of energy for the Celtics since joining the team by way of trade last summer. He's the Unicorn, after all, and has a special ability to spread the floor on one end and serve as the defensive anchor on the other.
But he is also an emotional spark plug. Porzingis smiles when he plays. He eggs on the crowd. He laughs even when times get tough.
His now-iconic return to action ahead of Game 1 of the 2024 NBA Finals is proof positive of this. Few other players could headline a WWE-style entrance, especially because it wasn't a pre-planned thing. As Porzingis explained, he always takes the court a little late, so things unfolded organically.
“I wasn't expecting it when I came out for the finals, but it was just a cool moment, getting shown on the screen and getting the crowd to react to it," Porzingis said. "Those are the special moments I love at the Garden.”
“Coming out for that Game 1, not being able to play for a while and then coming out with ...
