After a Game 6 loss to the Knicks that eliminated the Celtics from the 2025 NBA Playoffs, Kristaps Porzingis has some interesting words of encouragement for Knicks fans.
“The support from the Knicks fans was through the roof tonight and all throughout the playoffs. Unbelievable fans, unbelievable city, and there’s a side of me that’s very, very happy, that’s very happy for them. I wish them nothing the best. They’re class players that we played against and they’ve done great things and I wish them nothing but success.”
Porzingis was drafted by the Knicks in 2015 and was famously booed as he walked up to shake the commissioner’s hand when he was selected fourth overall.
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Porzingis praises Madison Square Garden and city of New York
Despite being booed again when checking into the game during Game 6, Porzingis chose to show his love and appreciation for Knicks fans.
Porzingis had one of the worst stretches of basketball this postseason in his entire career.
He averaged just 7.7 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 0.8 BPG, 31.6 FG% and 15.4 3P%.
It was obvious that this ‘mystery’ illness that Porzingis had managed over the past few months had gotten the best of him, playing well below what he produces when healthy.
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Celtics fans were still frustrated with his lack of production, especially not being able to step up with Tatum out in Game 5 & 6.
For a city that has shown a lot of hate for Porzingis since he was traded away to the Mavericks, it was interesting to hear him praise the Knicks fans after being eliminated and playing poorly.
There are definitely Celtics fans out there that want praising New York to be the last thing they hear in a post game press conference about the game and season.
Rumors have circulated over the past few weeks and months that Porzingis could be on the move to save the Celtics tax money, but nothing is confirmed or guaranteed to be in the works yet.