Kristaps Porzingis may feel like a forgotten man to most NBA fans. The 23-year-old Latvian has not played a single game this season, and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has already made it clear that Porzingis will be held out until next season.
Despite not suiting for game action with the Mavs, Porzingis practiced with the team on Wednesday morning in his first real action since tearing his ACL about 13 months ago.
Porzingis spoke to the media afterwards, telling reporters that he was ecstatic to return to 5-on-5 action, per Brad Townsend of the The Dallas Morning News.
K.P. speaks. pic.twitter.com/Deb3VjuPVv
— Brad Townsend (@townbrad) March 13, 2019
Kristaps Porzingis said he felt “comfortable” and that his body had gotten “stronger” since the injury. He also pointed out that he was moving well.
He clearly had no reservations in withholding his excitement,and seems eager to prove his worth as soon as he is cleared to play by the organization.
More @kporzee. He’s clearly on Cloud 9 after his first practice, 13 months to the day after his ACL surgery. Well, Cloud 9 plus 7-3. pic.twitter.com/bZGaBbPJRZ
— Brad Townsend (@townbrad) March 13, 2019
Porzingis was acquired by the Mavs on Feb. 1 in one of the major blockbusters of the season. The Knicks sent Porzingis, Tim Hardaway Jr., Courtney Lee and Trey Burke to Dallas for Dennis Smith Jr., DeAndre Jordan and Wesley Matthews.
An All-Star with the Knicks in 2017-18, Kristaps Porzingis had a tumultuous relationship with the organization that drafted him in 2015. He was given the keys to the franchise after New York moved on from Carmelo Anthony in 2017, but it also felt that Melo's situation spoke to the chaos of the organization, and eventually he wanted out as well.
Porzingis will now team up with Luka Doncic with the Mavs in what could be one of the most exciting young duos in the NBA come the 2019-20 season.
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