Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis is making it crystal clear – he fully intends to represent Latvia at this summer’s EuroBasket 2025, and any suggestion otherwise is completely unfounded.
Porzingis, who hasn’t played for the Latvian national team since 2021, strongly addressed recent speculation questioning his commitment to international duty.
The 7-foot-3 star dismissed the notion with conviction, stating that his past absences were due to injuries, not a lack of willingness.
“Whether I want to play for the national team or not, it’s a silly question,” Porziņģis said. “The past few summers didn’t work out because I was injured. I’ve never refused the national team. This summer, I’ll be there. Health is the main thing, and then everything else will follow.”
Porzingis was forced to miss the 2023 FIBA World Cup due to injury – an absence that came after Latvia’s impressive qualification.
Though Latvia ultimately didn’t secure a spot in the 2024 Paris Olympics, their strong World Cup showing, including a fifth-place finish, solidified them as a rising power in international basketball.
Now with EuroBasket 2025 on the horizon, the Celtics’ big man is looking to return to national team action for the first time in four years.
The tournament, scheduled to run from August 27 to September 14, will feature games across Cyprus, Finland, Poland, and Latvia, with Riga hosting Group A action.
Latvia finds itself in a competitive Group A, which includes Czechia, Estonia, Portugal, Serbia, and Turkiye. Having a healthy Porzingis back in the lineup could provide a major boost to the host nation as they look to contend on home soil.
Despite the physical setbacks that have kept him sidelined in recent summers, Porzingis’ message is loud and clear: his heart has always been with Latvia.
Kristaps Porzingis Plans To Play In EuroBasket If Healthy https://t.co/AsPMUwqKmT
— RealGM (@RealGM) April 18, 2025
