How Porzingis and Doncic Answered Questions About Their Rumored Problem originally appeared on KeynoteUSA Sports Boston
Among the most intriguing storylines of the 2024 NBA Finals will be Kristaps Porzingis’ return to Dallas.
The Boston Celtics big man played alongside superstar Luka Doncic on the Mavericks from 2019 to 2022. He was traded to the Washington Wizards at the 2022 deadline, ending a tumultuous tenure plagued by injuries, postseason deficiencies and a rumor of problems with Doncic.
Porzingis admitted that there was some tension between him and Doncic from the beginning, but also claimed that the rumor that they didn’t get along was the “biggest mistake.” Still, Porzingis and Doncic’s complicated relationship remains a hot topic heading into Game 1 on Thursday.
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Former Mavs forward Chandler Parsons fanned the flames with his comments about Dallas fans’ “beef” and disdain for Porzingis.
“Make no mistake, they don’t like (Kristaps) Porzingis in Dallas,” Parsons said on FanDuel’s Run It Back. “Luka (Doncic) didn’t like playing with him, there is a real problem there where every time he touches the ball, they will boo him…
“It didn’t work out and Dallas, for some reason, those fans are (proud). If you’re hurt, if you’re not playing, if you’re not doing what you did in the years before you got to the Mavs… When you come back and play against “That team you want to show something, you want to show what they’re missing, the game has more juice. Now we’re talking about the NBA Finals.”
On Monday, Doncic laughed at Parsons’ claim that he didn’t like playing with Porzingis.
“That’s why I don’t see that much. Because people don’t know,” he told reporters. “I’ve talked to Chandler Parsons maybe twice in my life, so I don’t know how he would know. KP and I have a good relationship. I don’t know why people say otherwise.”
Porzingis was also asked about the relationship, although he declined to go into details.
“It didn’t work out,” he said of his time in Dallas with Doncic. “I’m not even thinking about that right now. I’m thinking about the work ahead of us. We can think about that later.”
With only two to go before the start of the final, Porzingis is solely focused on returning to the TD Garden hardwood. The 28-year-old hasn’t played since Game 4 of the Celtics’ first-round series against the Miami Heat due to a calf strain. Just before Porzingis spoke to reporters on Monday, it was reported that he is expected to return when the series begins Thursday.
Game 1 is scheduled to begin at 8:30 pm ET at TD Garden. Coverage begins on KeynoteUSA Sports Boston with Celtics Pregame Live at 7 p.m.
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