Veteran star enters the 2025 NBA Playoffs healthy and ready — and that could be a major X-factor in the Celtics’ push for Banner No. 19.
After a season filled with frustrating stops and starts, including a viral illness and the lingering effects of foot surgery that cost him the first month, he is finally feeling 100%. He averaged 19.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, and shot an impressive 41.2% from beyond the arc across 42 games, showing flashes of his elite two-way ability when on the floor.
Now, with Game 1 of Boston’s first-round series against the physical, defense-oriented Orlando Magic looming on Sunday, the pressure is on for him to deliver in the playoffs — something that’s been a question mark throughout his career. He’s never played more than seven postseason games in a single year and injuries have consistently popped up at the worst times, including last season when a calf strain in the first round and later a foot injury during the NBA Finals severely limited his availability.
But a healthy Porziņģis changes everything for Boston. His size and spacing give the Celtics a dimension that very few teams can match, especially against a team like Orlando that thrives on physicality and interior defense. With Jaylen Brown still dealing with a bone bruise in his right knee — even if he’s reportedly looked good in practice — the Celtics will need all the scoring and versatility they can get from Porziņģis, especially early in the series.
Porziņģis seems to be embracing the challenge:
“There’s more physicality, maybe a bit less fouls called,” he said of the playoffs. “But that’s all part of the game… At the end, it’s just basketball.”
For the Celtics, “just basketball” with a healthy Kristaps means floor-spacing, rim protection, and a serious upgrade in frontcourt versatility. And if he can finally stay on the court through a deep playoff run, it could be the piece that makes the difference in Boston’s championship aspirations.
Bottom line: Porziņģis is healthy, locked in, and has everything to prove. If he delivers, the Celtics might just be the team to beat.