Kristaps Porzingis Breaks Silence on Last Season’s Illness—Is He Truly Ready to Lead Latvia and the Hawks?

Porzingis told Latvia’s Sports Studija he is feeling like himself again and is ready to play for his native Latvia in EuroBasket, then with the Hawks next season (hat tip Basketnews.com for the translation).

Atlanta had a fantastic offseason and part of that was trading for Porzingis — the Hawks are betting on him to be the rim protector they have lacked, as well as a pick-and-pop partner for Trae Young — and he realizes how much Atlanta needs him to have a career season.“I feel fantastic, to be honest. I took time to rest after the season. Something was lingering during the playoffs—I had fatigue, dizziness, even moments where I felt like I might faint. It wasn’t great…“I’ve always been a player who can fit into any system, but now I adapt faster. I read defenses better and make quicker decisions. That comes with experience.”Kristaps Porzingis, once a towering force on the court, found himself stumbling through the latter half of last season and the playoffs, hampered by an elusive virus that sapped his energy and clouded his performance. Playing only 42 games, his numbers took a nosedive—dropping from an almost All-Star playoff PER of 19.6 during the 2024 title run to a disappointing 11.3 last season. It was clear the unicorn wasn’t quite herding right. But now, in a refreshingly candid chat with Latvia’s Sports Studija, Porzingis revealed he’s finally shaken off the fatigue, dizziness, and those scary moments where he felt faint, embracing a full recovery and gearing up not just for EuroBasket with his homeland but for a pivotal season with the Atlanta Hawks. The Hawks, who’ve had a stellar offseason, are pinning big hopes on him as their missing rim protector and a lethal pick-and-pop complement to Trae Young. Porzingis himself sounds determined, reflective even, acknowledging his growth in reading defenses and making quicker decisions—skills honed through experience. The question now is simple: can he rebound and deliver efficiency alongside his solid 19.5 points per game last season? If he does, Atlanta could very well become the sneaky threat in an Eastern Conference that’s ripe for the picking. LEARN MOREThe second half of last season and through the playoffs, Kristaps Porzingis was not himself — a virus that doctors couldn’t quite put their fingers on was slowing him down. He played in just 42 games and in the playoffs averaged 7.7 points and 4.6 rebounds a game on 31.6% shooting. As an example of how much he struggled, his playoff PER during the 2024 title run was an almost All-Star level of 19.6, last season that fell to a well below average 11.3.

What matters most is he seems healthy and ready to bounce back from a rough season, one where he still averaged 19.5 points a game during the regular season. If Porzingis can do that efficiently again, the Hawks become a real threat in a down East.“In June, I fully rested and lowered the intensity. All of that has gone away. I haven’t felt any of the playoff symptoms anymore. I feel great and ready to join the national team.”