Kristaps Porzingis revealed on Tuesday that he’s coping with plantar fasciitis in his foot, and the brand new Celtics huge man won’t play for his native Latvia within the upcoming FIBA World Cup.
Porzingis made an announcement on his Twitter/X account that the choice was made after a number of assessments of the foot.
“It is difficult, I feel very responsible to myself and the supporters of the Latvian national team, but a decision has been made that I will not play in the World Cup,” Porzingis stated, through Google Translate.
“After a number of weeks of restoration and a repeat MRI examination, the plantar fasciitis of my foot nonetheless prevents me from being on the sphere in full readiness.
“This joint resolution has been made by each the medical workers and training workers of the nationwide group, in addition to the Celtics group – with the recommendation and opinion that it’s now essential to proceed the restoration course of.
“Such a decision is not easy to make, but I promise that I will be there and support the team as much as I can.”
It’s unclear how the damage was sustained and the way lengthy Porzingis shall be sidelined. Celtics coaching camp is anticipated to start in late September with the preseason beginning in early October. He has two-plus months to get better earlier than the Celtics start the common season.
Still, the information isn’t superb after the Celtics made a franchise-altering commerce in June to amass Porzingis within the deal that despatched Marcus Smart to the Grizzlies, particularly given Porzingis’ damage historical past. The huge man had the perfect and one of many healthiest seasons of his profession in 2022-23, posting a career-best 23.2 factors in 65 video games. But he has had some bother staying on the courtroom all through his profession, which included tearing his ACL in 2018.
Porzingis’ damage is an enormous blow to Latvia’s hopes within the nation’s first ever look within the World Cup. He was one in all simply two NBA gamers on the roster.
Celtics’ schedule coming into focus
The group play schedule for the NBA’s inaugural in-season match was launched on Tuesday. The Celtics, who’re in East Group C, will start match play in opposition to the Nets at residence on Nov. 10, adopted by highway video games in opposition to the Raptors and Magic on Nov. 17 and 24 earlier than returning residence to wrap up group play versus the Bulls on Nov. 28.
The winners of every of the six teams – together with two wild-card groups – will advance to the knockout stage of the match, which begins with the quarterfinals on Dec. 4-5.
The Celtics’ full regular-season schedule shall be launched on Thursday. It was reported final week by The Athletic’s Shams Charania that the C’s will host the Heat in a rematch of the Eastern Conference Finals on Oct. 27. The Celtics may even go to the Lakers on Christmas Day, and face the defending champion Nuggets in Denver on Feb. 29, in response to Charania.
Source: www.bostonherald.com