Kristaps Porzingis openly compares Celtics experience to previous NBA stops – NBC Sports Boston

Kristaps Porzingis loves playing in Boston.

That’s obvious, not only because the Celtics big man has said it multiple times, but also because he seems to play with a constant smile on his face.

Porzingis’ joy is due in part to the Celtics’ success; After just two playoff appearances (both first-round exits) in his first eight NBA seasons, split between the New York Knicks, Dallas Mavericks and Washington Wizards, the 7-foot-2 big man got it right away last season a glimpse of how he would make Boston’s championship squad and enjoyed the support of an extremely passionate fan base.

So is playing for the Celtics the most fun Porzingis has had as a pro? After Boston’s 123-99 victory over the Detroit Pistons at TD Garden on Thursday, Porzingis responded with a brief but interesting look back at his career so far.

“I’m definitely having fun playing like crazy here, right?” Porzingis said. “But I would say I also had a lot of fun in Washington even though we didn’t win. I really enjoyed my time there.

“I always enjoy playing for the (Latvian) national team – it gives me a lot of joy because you’re not forced to, but because you want to be there. It’s a different mood. I also had some good years in Spain too (before joining the NBA).

In short, Porzingis has had fun almost everywhere he has played — with one notable exception.

“Obviously my time in Dallas was a little bit more like gritting my teeth and trying to find that joy,” Porzingis added. “But also New York – honestly, I always enjoy basketball. Just a little bit, maybe I lost it.” a little bit in Dallas.

“Nobody really paid me that much attention in Washington back then, but I had a lot of fun, and now you obviously see me and see my mood, smiling and happy.”

The Knicks traded Porzingis to Dallas in January 2019 to pair him with fellow European superstar Luka Doncic, but that experiment quickly went awry. Then-head coach Rick Carlisle used Porzingis more as a floor protector, encouraging him to shoot 3-pointers over post-ups. Porzingis had one of the least efficient seasons of his career and had occasional clashes with Doncic before Dallas traded him to Washington in early 2022.

According to Porzingis, he regained his love of basketball with the Wizards despite the team’s poor record. And when he went from one of the NBA’s worst teams to one of the best last summer, that joy reached a new level.

“I would say I’ve been like that for most of my career,” Porzingis said. “Right now I’m back on a bigger stage and here everyone can see how I play and how I enjoy the game.”

Porzingis’ joy is palpable on the court; Since his season debut on November 25th, he has averaged 20.3 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game for the reigning champions.

The Celtics are back in action on Sunday against Porzingis’ former team in Washington, with kickoff set for 6:00 p.m. ET.