Kristaps Porzingis Recaps His First Game With Warriors | Feb. 19, 2026

Kristaps, how'd you feel out there? I felt all right. Far from being in perfect shape, but I think for first game back after a while, you know, getting some energy back, feeling good.

You kind of got a longer run there, end of the third into the fourth. Did you feel like you were picking up the rhythm there? You definitely looked like you were a little bouncier. A little more in the flow there.

Yeah, yeah. I think as the game went on, it just felt better and better. And I think this is a good, like, first step to keep building, you know? Obviously, lower minutes, had some opportunities, couple turnovers, this, like, I think it's just a matter of time to get in a better rhythm from this point on, but a good first game. Kristaps, how'd you feel about— you got to play a little bit of time, a little bit with Al, a little bit with Draymond in different stretches. How do you feel like you fit next to them? I don't know, it's hard to say. I mean, obviously I know Al from the Celtics, and he knows me really well, so that's gonna be easy. But I think with how vocal and how experienced Draymond is, also just a matter of time to find a good rhythm for him to see how I play and, you know, like catch up. He already knows my tendencies from just playing against each other, you know. But yeah, to get that rhythm, you need obviously a little bit of time on the court. And we'll find it. But I think also I'm a player that, you know, I can find that rhythm pretty quickly. It's just a matter of, you know, getting a better feel for each other and then we'll be fine.

Kristaps, what stood out to you being on the floor with them about that Celtics team and how they've stayed at such a high level this season with new personnel?

What's the question, sorry?

What stood out to you about the Celtics and how they've stayed at a high level with new players?

I think you have to give credit to Joe and the coaching staff for sure. Joe's a great coach, great leader for them, and, you know, to have this team to maintain that same, like, culture and probably be even hungrier, you know, with less talent, it's, you know, you have to give credit to that for sure. And JB's playing at a super high level, leading them. And they're a good team. They're a good team, you know, even without JT, you know, and some of us that were there, you know, there's still a good team and they have young guys that are playing super hard. They crash the boards hard and they have a strong, like, culture there already, you know? So it's—

Yeah.

Yeah. Like, I knew even without them having, like, you know, the full roster and all this, I knew they were going to be good, you know, and this is probably a little bit better than I expected. So hats off to them. How quickly are you hoping to build your minutes up and some of that? I mean, honestly, as quickly as possible. Like even tonight, I would like to go even a little bit longer, even if I, if I'm, you know, like exhausted out there, I want to still, you know, push myself, but I know I have to take it step by step. You know, it's a, it's a long, long-term vision, you know, and, and just take it one game at a time, add a couple of minutes next game, hopefully, and keep building from, from that point on.

Kristaps, I saw before you came in the game in the second quarter there, in the first quarter, you took, you went to the floor a couple of times, ran across the floor, back and forth, bounced around a little bit. That just to get warm and get ready before you go in the game?

Yeah, that was just to keep moving, you know, keep the blood moving. And then, so I'm not, you know, yeah, just, just to keep, stay warm.

And when you came in, what were the things you liked about what you gained tonight and what didn't you like about your game tonight? I mean, I know you criticize yourself sometimes.

No, no, I always stay like critical of myself. Obviously, like I want to get in like perfect shape where I can go, I can, you know, not be a half step late, you know, and just be on time, be quick and be quick on my feet. And honestly, I don't— I mean, shot wasn't perfect, you know, a couple shots like were a bit flat and, you know, like these are like things that's just going to be a little bit, you know, to catch a good rhythm and that's it. And then, yeah, just again, you know, seeing like different coverages, you know, now they know me super well. So they were like doubling from the beginning and putting a smaller guy, you know, making us kind of slow down post-up, you know, it's took us a little bit out of our rhythm. Smart. Had a couple turnovers there, you know, so just doing a better job in all these small things, making the right read, not turning it over, you know, just building, building from, from this. After, after a little bit of time off, did it feel like different or strange coming back? Or I guess, how are you kind of feeling physically right now? Uh, no, honestly, uh, yeah, I mean, it's always weird coming back after a while, you know, just, uh, but yeah, I've had, you know, my ups and downs in my career, and I've been out for a bit, and, you know, I'm kind of, uh, pretty good at jumping right back in, you know, and And today again was the same kind of scenario that I've been in already in my career. And, and yeah, it felt all right. Felt all right for the first game back. Felt all right. And just want to keep, keep building on top of this.

Last word for Kristaps Porzingis. How determined were you to hold on to that ball after the jump ball?

Yes. No, no, I was mad, you know, like I was not going to let go of that ball. We were down big. So I was already, you know, not in the best mood.

So.

But nah, it was just a cool moment, you know, with my old teammates and that's it. Just playful, you know.

That wasn't like a scrimmage thing where you guys had practiced against each other and had tussled with the ball before or anything like that?

Nah, nah, nah, nah, nah. That was just freestyling. Cool.

All right.

Thank you. Appreciate that.