The Golden State Warriors entered Thursday night’s matchup against the Boston Celtics already shorthanded, missing their two best players. Stephen Curry remained sidelined with a knee injury, while Jimmy Butler’s season had ended in January after tearing his ACL. Sitting eighth in the Western Conference and clinging to their play-in hopes, the Warriors desperately needed a spark.
They got one — literally hours before tip-off.
Kristaps Porzingis was cleared to make his Golden State debut after missing more than six weeks with a left Achilles injury. The timing made the night even more emotional: he was facing the franchise with which he won the 2024 NBA championship.
Before the game, Porzingis didn’t hold back when asked about the past year.
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“Tough, honestly,” he said. “Not the most enjoyable season, especially since that playoffs. Then the summertime I was healthy, I was good. And then kind of up-and-down this season, not playing too much.”
The raw honesty landed like a bombshell in the Bay. For a player who has spent much of his career battling health questions, Porzingis offered no sugarcoating. He acknowledged battling POTS during Boston’s 2024 playoff run, recovering over the summer, then watching everything unravel in Atlanta with an Achilles issue that limited him to fewer than half the Hawks’ games before the mid-season trade to Golden State.
Yet in the very next breath, the 7-foot-3 big man flipped the script.
“But I’m actually excited about being here now,” Porzingis said. “Feeling good today.”
The difficult chapter was behind him. Chase Center represented a fresh start.
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In his debut, Porzingis delivered exactly what the Warriors hoped to see — flashes of the high-upside two-way big they traded for. In 17 minutes off the bench he dropped 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting, knocked down shots that stretched the floor, and recorded two blocks that reminded everyone why his rim protection remains elite. The performance came in spurts, particularly after halftime as he grew more comfortable with the pace and new teammates. It wasn’t perfect — he admitted his conditioning still needs work — but it was more than enough to build on.
Al Horford, his former Celtics teammate now suiting up alongside him in Golden State, was encouraged.
“I expect him to keep building,” Horford said after the game. “We’re going to see a different version of him as the weeks go on.”
Porzingis himself echoed the need for patience, saying rhythm is what he’s chasing most right now.
Facing Boston carried extra weight. Before tip-off, Porzingis reflected warmly on his time with the Celtics.
“We had our time there and enjoyed every moment of it,” he said. “At the end we accomplished the big objective. It’s an iconic franchise, so it’ll always be in my memory as a special time.”
Postgame, hugs flowed freely between Porzingis, Horford, and their former Celtics teammates — a visible reminder that the championship bond remains.
The final score was a comfortable Celtics victory, but the result was secondary. Kristaps Porzingis arrived in the Bay with a brutally honest assessment of a lost year — and left the court with optimism, production, and a clear message: he’s ready to move forward.
Golden State cannot afford another setback. With Curry out and Butler gone for the season, Porzingis is now their most talented offensive weapon. The play-in spot they’re fighting to protect needs him healthy, confident, and on the floor.
Thursday was only one game. But the bombshell admission, the promising debut, and the renewed focus suggest the Warriors may have found exactly what they needed at exactly the right time.
He’s feeling good. The Warriors need him to stay that way.