As the Dallas Mavericks prepare for the NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics, head coach Jason Kidd reflects on Kristaps Porzingis’ time with the team.
Porzingis played for the Mavericks for two and a half seasons before being traded to the Washington Wizards in 2022.
“When you talk about did it work, did it not work, I only had him for a short period of time, and I thought it was going well in the sense of our defense, his ability to block shots, rebound,” Kidd explained.
Kidd noted the adjustments made to maximize Porzingis’ skills, stating, “Offensively we look to post them up a little bit more than Rick [Carlisle] had used them in the post, who was strictly just on the perimeter shooting threes. He has the skillset to do both.”
Despite facing injuries during his time in Dallas, Kidd recognized Porzingis’ efforts: “When you talk about maybe the health, he got hurt. As much as a coach or teammate you want them all to be out there 100% at all times. But I thought KP did great for us.”
Describing Porzingis as a great player on and off the court, Kidd praised his contributions: “I really enjoyed KP. He was great, great on the floor, great off the floor, did everything we asked.”
However, Kidd acknowledged the unpredictable nature of the basketball business, where trades are a common occurrence. “As you know, in the business of basketball there’s trade that take place and we’re judged if it works or doesn’t work. That’s just part of the business,” he noted.
After leaving Dallas, Porzingis found a new home with the Boston Celtics, where he became an integral part of their lineup.
The Latvian forward averaged 20.1 points and 7.2 rebounds in 29.6 minutes per game during the regular season for Boston.
