"There are things more important than basketball": The drama of the NBA champion

Joe Mazzulla, head coach of the Boston Celtics, revealed that he spoke with Kristaps Porziņģis, who announced he is stepping away from basketball due to health issues. Mazzulla said Porziņģis is in a good place and that the organization will do everything to support him.

Joe Mazzulla, head coach of the Boston Celtics, revealed that he spoke with Kristaps Porziņģis, the 31-year-old Latvian center who announced on Friday that he is stepping away from basketball due to health issues. Mazzulla said the conversation was good and that Porziņģis is in a good place. The coach emphasized that there are things more important than basketball, and that the players' lives and careers matter more than what happens on the court. Porziņģis, who won the NBA championship with the Celtics in 2024, is dealing with POTS syndrome and has not played this season for the Golden State Warriors. His professional future remains unclear, and he has not announced a final retirement.