Kristaps Porzingis says he's confident he'll be ready to play for the Warriors soon, ideally in the first game after the All-Star break. The newly traded center is working through a gradual rehabilitation and believes his shooting, passing, and rim protection will fit the Warriors' offense alongside Steph Curry and Draymond Green.
Chapters
Did the trade come out of, like, left field to you? How did you kind of learn about it?
Yeah, I had no idea. It was a surprise. And it was late at night too, so right before sleep. So it was a surprise to me. What did you think about it? Excited, as always, you know. Especially once I found out where I'm going. Knowing that also, like, Al is here, you know, like— and always liked the fan base here. Pretty strong fan base from the outside. And I thought it would be, yeah, that would be an exciting opportunity.
Kristaps, how are you feeling health-wise and how was your workout this morning?
It was a good workout. Building slowly back up. Because once I start playing, I want to like hit the ground running. That's my goal. And feeling pretty good. So step by step. How do you see your skill set fitting in here in Golden State? Shooting, passing, cutting, all that? I think it will be pretty natural. I think I always say that also because I feel like I'm the type of player that can fit into any kind of offense. So I expect it to be pretty smooth. We'll see, we'll see. Of course, it takes a little bit of time to, to get adjusted to everybody, to guys, you know, get used to how I like to play and where I like to get the ball. But I think these guys are very experienced. They They've played at the high level for a long time. So I believe it will be, it'll be easy and I'll also be able to learn from them. Kristaps, the stuff you've dealt with health-wise is well documented. Why are you confident that you'll be able to stay out there and stay on the floor here? I don't know, but I'm confident that I will. I am confident that I will. It's just, yeah, I will do everything right, and, um, and I believe I will.
Obviously you're on an expiring contract. Um, how does that kind of affect, um, your on-court play, or if it— does it even affect you at all knowing that there's a contract situation up in the air?
No, of course no. Honestly, like, especially at this stage of my career, I know, you know, usually, like, I think there's even a stat that players play like better on their contract year or something, you know. But I don't play into that too much. I just want to finish the year strong. You know, it's been already a little bit up and down this season playing out. I just want to finish the year really strong on a new team, new chapter, and see where I go from there.
Knowing—
Given your time with Al Horford in Boston, has he talked to you since the trade? Yeah, we just talked in the locker room right now. Al Horford, you said? Yeah. We just talked to Al in the locker room for a little bit, and we'll have more time to talk. And, you know, he will be probably, you know, who's going to help me, like, settle in even more here. Yeah. So it's good to have somebody like Al that I spent, you know, last couple of seasons together and to have him here already. But honestly, everybody's been super welcoming as always, you know, and and looking forward to building relationships here and getting to know everybody.
Knowing what you're capable of and the type of stuff that you've accomplished in the league, how frustrating was it to be so limited recently? And do you view this, you know, joining a team with Steph, Draymond, as an opportunity for a whole new chapter?
Yeah, exactly. I think it's a great, great opportunity to, like, turn a new page. From what I've seen, and the conversations I've had so far with the medical staff here and the people that work here, I have to say I'm like very surprised and very optimistic, you know, and that I'm in really, really good hands, if not some of the best hands. And I think that will also add to already what I have in my mind. So I look forward to really having a— A great surgery. Surprisingly good post-All-Star break, you know, period.
Just as a quick follow-up to that, why were you surprised? Like, what surprised you?
Um, what surprised me? I don't know, just, just we clicked. I think we clicked in the first couple conversations, and, um, and I already had heard good things, but I think now I just put the pieces together. I was like, okay, I see, I see how these guys are some of the best. So I think it's, you know, it's just going to help me to be healthy.
To kind of follow up on that too, what was the focus of your first conversation with Steve like at the team hotel? And do you have any previous experience with knowing Steph Curry as well too?
First conversation with Steve was very quick. We just, you know, I was walking into the hotel, he was, you know, going out. So we just had a brief moment, talked a little bit. And yeah, and you know, we will have more time to talk and discuss basketball and all that. And Steph, Steph has been— I've been a huge fan of Steph for a long time. He knows this. I always like try to say what's up to him after the game and like tell that, you know, Steph is, you know, just watching him from outside, he's unreal. So to play alongside somebody like that will be really cool and I think it brings the level up for everybody. You know, when you have somebody like that on your team, special, special player, it's just, it just makes everybody greater.
Are you targeting the first game out of the break?
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I was, yeah, that's the goal.
And, you know, do you think, I'm sure these are conversations for a little bit later, but do you think it'll be kind of like easing your minutes or are you hoping to like—
48 straight. 48, all right. We'll see, we'll see, we'll see what the medical staff, you know, what they, what they think for me. But, but yeah, as I said, I want to like hit the ground running.
For a long time now, the Warriors have, they've looked for a center who can protect the rim and also stretch the floor like you can, specifically for the reason of playing with Draymond. How potent do you think that combination can be in the frontcourt?
Yeah, no, Draymond's one of— honestly, Draymond's always been one of the toughest guys for me to play against. So I know who he is and how annoying he is for other guys, you know. So to have him on my side now, it's going to be pretty cool. And yeah, I think his experience, his knowledge, you know, his edge on the court, it's something that's going to be a good mix, you know, I think. And I look forward to sharing the court with him. Good.
One more question's over here. Thank you.
Yeah.
Yeah. So sorry, but just considering that you're a veteran now and throughout all the years, what do you think is the one lesson that you think you've learned throughout your entire career that can help you kind of better get acclimated to the Warriors and just this next chapter?
I don't know. I just don't like to force anything, you know? Like, basketball will just— especially the older you get, the— you know, when you're young, you want to get the points and this, and at the end, it just comes natural when you're like— when you're just playing in a rhythm and trying to be the best, you know, teammate and be the best player. It just comes natural. So I think just not forcing it and letting the game and the rhythm and everything find myself. Thank you. Hang there, we're going to have you take a— hold this up and take a quick photo. Anybody who might want this, we put this in here. Yeah, yeah, exactly. Hang on 2 seconds. Why don't you stand right in the middle of that so we get that as the background there. Maybe I should hold up the banner a little bit so I get your head above the— I'm not going to forget it. In the back here.
