There has been a lot of chatter about a supposed beef between Kristaps Porzingis and Luka Doncic stemming from Porzingis’ time at the Mavs and he’s spoken candidly about it.
The Celtics big man is planning to suit up for Thursday’s Game 1 against his former teammate Doncic and has made it clear that there is no ‘ill will’ between the pair, despite the rumors earlier in the week that went viral.
“Not all of it was not good,” Porzingis said of his time in Dallas. “We had some good moments. We had some decent moments, but overall it just didn’t work for both sides. It wasn’t perfect. But I would say everything – teammates, locker room, I know at that time there were some rumors that there was something in the locker room. It was never like that. It was all just noise at the end.
“It just wasn’t perfect for us playing together, and it didn’t work out. And that’s it. There’s no ill will, I don’t think from their side. For sure, [there is not] from my side. I don’t think there should be. It just didn’t work out, but I have nothing but love for Dallas and for my teammates and for everybody there.”
Porzingis was once pegged to be Luka’s long-term running mate, but multiple injuries, plus a rocky start with Doncic plagued his time in Dallas.
He was traded to the Wizards at the 2022 deadline and Mavericks coach Jason Kidd certainly doesn’t seem to harbor any resentment about how things unfolded.
“As you know, in the business of basketball, there’s trades that take place,” Kidd said. “We’re judged if it works or doesn’t work. That’s just part of the business. For the short period I had him, I really enjoyed KP. Great, great on the floor, great off the floor. Did everything we asked.
“When you talk about maybe the health, he got hurt. As much as any coach or teammate you want them all to be out there 100 percent at all times. I thought KP did great for us. But the business of basketball, there was a pivot. So, from there things changed.”
