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How do you look at this challenge with you and the team managing Porzingis’ injury and the overall center position? Al Horford: “It is a big challenge for us. The way that I’m approaching it is that I have to do a little more. But Dray has to step up, I have to step up. Some of our younger guys are going to have more opportunities. Graham [Ike] and [Charles] Bassey are going to have to step in and play. At this point, that’s all we can do. I’ve been in a position on teams before where we all have to pick up the slack for others. This isn’t any different now.” How have KP’s spirits been with all of this? Horford: “I don’t know. I haven’t been able to check in with him on that."
All summer long, Prime Video — like ESPN and NBC — had been mapping out 2026-27 scheduling scenarios, one of its themes being: Get every revenge game it could. It had already reached out to Li requesting all the doozies. Antetokounmpo’s return to Milwaukee. Brown’s return to Boston. Morant’s return to Memphis. But now Kaiser says Prime Video immediately “recalibrated” and asked Li, Benedict or David Denenberg, senior vice president of global media distribution and business affairs at NBA Entertainment, for one of the LeBron return games against the Lakers. “Before LeBron decided to sign with the Sixers, we were probably looking at the Sixers appearing on our schedule somewhere around six or seven times,” Kaiser said, “And then shortly after he announced that he was headed to Philadelphia, we bumped that up to 10 appearances.
Joseph Dycus: Steve Kerr says he has not heard from Kristaps Porzingis, and that KP was not around the facility for Warriors practice. Said that the starters will play similar minutes on Saturday.
Since the 2023-24 season, Sotheby has worked with the league in hosting live NBA auctions (New York, Paris) and activations (Abu Dhabi). Sotheby’s sold Cooper Flagg’s debut jersey in February for a record-setting $1 million, which the league said eclipsed Victor Wembanyama’s previous record when his jersey sold for $762,000 in 2023. In March, Sotheby auctioned off various Scottie Pippen’s autographed memorabilia from the 1992 Olympics and from parts of his six NBA Finals appearances. The league said it drove over $6 million in revenue and attracted collectors from 32 different countries. The Detroit Pistons and Washington Wizards also have collectible programs and official partnerships. As for the Cavaliers, their partnership with The Realest involves both organizations striving to achieve two goals. The first? “To make sure that a Cavs fan can own any piece of history,” Kaiser said. The second? “People can find an environment where they know it’s credible, it’s authenticated and it’s real,” Keeney said.
However, the Warriors also have shown interest in bringing back several veterans, including Kristaps Porziņģis and Al Horford, who will be 31 and 40 years old, respectively, by the start of the 2026-27 NBA season. Both Kerr and Dunleavy were asked Friday about what's ahead for both big men. "Yeah, those are guys that we definitely would love to have back," Dunleavy told reporters. "They had some really good performances for this year with us. They add an element to our team that we haven't had in the past. Al specifically with his size, his shooting, his leadership. KP is just a unique, unique player on both ends of the court. I think for us to have that talent back is something we want. "And so those guys -- you know, Al has an option. I think frankly his option is two-fold: One, do you want to keep playing? Two, do you want to be back with the Warriors? Then KP is unrestricted, so we'll start having the conversations to try and get him back in the fold, but we like what we've seen from him. I think next year could be a more healthy, productive year for him."
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Did you also think that your team was due a little bit of luck? Tyrese Haliburton: I mean, it was a coin toss. The way I’m looking at these last 12 months for me, dating back from June, I didn’t think we were really due any luck. It’s been a rough 12 months for me. I didn’t think KP had to apologize. They took a calculated risk, and I’m still rolling with the decision. I’m excited to add Zu to our crew, and I think we’re going to be really good alongside him. It’s just how the cookie crumbles sometimes, but I’m still really excited about our group.
When I talk about your teammates, I’m curious how this process deepened your connection or appreciation for Jaylen Brown, because so much of his MVP-level play is what laid the foundation for this to be a championship-contending team that you’re returning to. Jayson Tatum: Well, absolutely. Honestly, I’ve been his teammate for nine years, so I wasn’t surprised at all. He’s shown this level of play. For me, it was just like, I was out, we lost Jrue, we lost KP, we lost Al, and it allowed an opportunity for him and the rest of the team to have to step up and carry more on their shoulders. Somebody as talented as he is, and as driven and as accomplished, now given more opportunity, I was fully a believer in what he was able to do and what the rest of the team was able to do. We had a team meeting the day before I came back, so that would have been a Thursday. I remember I sat in front of the team and just vaguely expressed my thoughts and what I’d been dealing with this year. A lot of it was me showing my appreciation for them and being quite candid, like: you guys attacking the season the way you did, competing the way you did, being as together as you were, and playing with the joy and passion that y’all played with, it made me want to get out of my situation and be out there with you guys.
Another factor in Porziņģis’ offseason prospects would be comfort with those on which he shares the court. He arrived six days after Curry limped off the court with “runner’s knee,” so they have yet to play together. So far, Curry the teammate is limited to the locker room. Curry the on-court partner exists only in KP’s dreams. “Yeah, for sure, just more open looks, honestly,” Porzingis said. “It just simplifies it. It will just be more open looks for everybody. But also, learning his style a bit better. Because he moves so much. It takes a little bit of time to get a rhythm, to get a feel for where he's running, what he’s doing and where he's expecting the ball. “He's not running for free, while we're doing something else. We have to make sure we find a good rhythm.”
Nonetheless, they remain on the roster as the Celtics enter unfamiliar territory as underdogs in the Eastern Conference. Although White is sad to see his fellow NBA champions leave, he's optimistic about what's next for Boston. He spoke about the transition during an exclusive interview with NBC Sports Boston's Celtics insider Chris Forsberg. "It's always tough to see guys leave, especially people that you won a championship with and had so many great battles with," White said. "Obviously, seeing KP and Jrue get traded, it was tough to see. And then Luke (Kornet) signs somewhere else. "Having a different team and having those guys leave is kind of difficult, but it's part of the business and I'm confident the guys that we have coming in and the guys that we still have returning. So it's gonna be a lot of fun, and it's gonna be a different challenge, but I think that's just the great thing about basketball."
Bobby Krivitsky: Jaylen Brown on Kristaps Porzingis: "KP's been a large part of our success. Our recent success...In the playoffs, he wasn't feeling his best, but we appreciate him getting out there. KP is a tough guy. He has a great mentality." "He helped us all year long, & it was unfortunate it ended this way."
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Bobby Manning: Joe Mazzulla on going with Luke Kornet over Kristaps Porzingis: "He couldn't breathe. He was available if absolutely necessary ... that was a decision between me and him." Said they've changed the lineup at half-time a lot this season. "I know KP will be ready for us."
Kayla Burton: #Celtics HC Joe Mazzulla says they do know the illness Kristaps Porzingis is dealing with and it’s impacting his “fatigue and his breathing.” He’s hoping two days off will help KP. - @985TheSportsHub
Sean Cunningham: Malik Monk is awarded the 2025 Community Crossover Award for a Second Consecutive Year by the Sacramento Kings and Kaiser Permanente. The Award Honors Kings Player’s Ongoing Leadership and Impact On and Off the Court. Monk joins back-to-back winners of the award including
Cameron Tabatabaie: Kristaps Porzingis still day-to-day per Mazzulla. KP left Sunday evenings game in the second quarter with “right heel pain”