Kristaps Porzingis has a unique ability to radically transform a team without being a traditional star, and the trade by the Atlanta Hawks to acquire the big man was one of the best moves the team could have made. However, Porzingis missed nearly all of the postseason with a mysterious illness.
Brad Stevens described Porzingis's illness as post-viral syndrome, a phenomenon where a person experiences lingering effects after recovering from a virus. While not necessarily rare, it is a condition that rarely impacts professional athletes to the extent it affected Porzingis.
Porzingis was candid about his symptoms during the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Knicks, where he said, "I’m just not feeling my best. I’m not feeling my best at all. It kills me inside that it’s happening in this moment,” after Game 3. After the series ended, Porzingis elaborated, "Even right now, I played 11 minutes and I'm gassed. I could just lay down right here and take a little nap, easy."
Porzingis was a shell of himself in the playoffs, averaging just 16 minutes per game in the Celtics' playoff series against the Knicks. Even when on the court, he struggled to impact the game in his usual dominating fashion. The condition came at the worst time, as his presence would have helped swing the series in Boston's favor.
In a recent interview with Sports Studija, Porzingis said, "I feel fantastic, to be honest. I took time to rest after the season. Something was lingering during the playoffs. I had fatigue, dizziness, even moments where I felt like I might faint. It wasn’t great. In June, I fully rested and lowered the intensity. All of that has gone away. I haven’t felt any of the playoff symptoms anymore. I feel great and ready to join the national team. Super happy.”
Hawks fans can breathe a sigh of relief with this news
Porzingis plans to join the Latvian national team in EuroBasket, which begins in late August. This lower level of competition will be an excellent way for him to ramp up his conditioning after resting for the better part of the offseason.
It will also be the first chance for Atlanta to gauge how ready Porzingis is for the NBA season. Viral infections are incredibly complicated and can affect people in non-linear timelines. While Porzingis has recovered from the illness, this isn't the first time he has beaten this specific illness.
We look forward to seeing Porzingis healthy on the court for the Hawks.