How Porzingis and Doncic answered questions about their rumors originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
One of the most intriguing storylines for the 2024 NBA Finals is Kristaps Porzingis’ return to Dallas.
The Boston Celtics big man played alongside superstar Luka Doncic with the Mavericks from 2019 to 2022. He was traded to the Washington Wizards at the ’22 deadline, ending a tumultuous period plagued by injuries, postseason shortcomings and rumors of a feud with Doncic.
Porzingis has admitted that there was some tension between him and Doncic early on, but he also stated that the rumor that they wouldn’t get along was the “biggest misconception.” Still, Porzingis and Doncic’s complicated relationship remains a hot topic ahead of Thursday’s Game 1.
Former Mavs forward Chandler Parsons fanned the flames with his comments about the “beef” and Dallas fans’ disdain for Porzingis.
‘Don’t worry about it, they don’t like it [Kristaps] Porzingis in Dallas,” Parsons said on FanDuel’s Feed it back. “Luka [Doncic] I didn’t like playing with him, there is a real problem where it will be that every time he touches the ball he will be booed. …
“It didn’t work out and Dallas, for whatever reason, those fans are (proud). If you’re hurt, if you’re not playing, if you’re not doing what you did the last few years before you joined the Mavs… When you go back and play against that team, you want to prove something, you want to show what they’re missing, the game has more spice. Now we’re talking about the NBA Finals.”
On Monday, Doncic laughed off Parsons’ claim that he didn’t like playing with Porzingis.
“That’s why I don’t look at it 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 that. Me and KP 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 detail.
“It didn’t work out,” he said of his time in Dallas with Doncic. ‘I’m not even thinking about that now. I think about the job ahead of me. We can think about that later.’
With only two until the final tip, Porzingis is focused solely on regaining the TD Garden parquet. The 28-year-old hasn’t played since Game 4 of the Celtics’ first-round series against the Miami Heat due to a calf injury. Just before Porzingis spoke to reporters on Monday, it was reported that he is expected to return when the series kicks off on Thursday.
Game 1 is scheduled for an 8:30 PM ET start at TD Garden. Coverage begins on NBC Sports Boston with Celtics Pregame Live at 7 PM
