The Golden State Warriors made a strategic move by bringing Kristaps Porziņģis into the fold, and the early signs are promising. The plan?
Assess his health, evaluate his fit alongside Stephen Curry, and potentially benefit from his $30.7 million expiring contract. But it’s not just the Warriors doing the evaluating-Porziņģis is sizing up Golden State, too, and he likes what he sees.
Porziņģis, now 30, isn't openly discussing a long-term future with the Warriors, but he seems intrigued by the prospect. Playing with Curry is a big draw, and he’s impressed with the team’s medical and training staff, especially under the guidance of Dr. Rick Celebrini.
Arriving seven weeks ago while recovering from tendinitis in his left Achilles, Porziņģis has become a fan of Celebrini’s methods. “Rick's amazing,” he shared after a recent practice.
“Really. I'm very happy with these guys, and I’m sure they will keep me on the same path.”
This connection could be pivotal when Porziņģis hits free agency this summer. Trust in a team’s medical staff is crucial for any player, and the Warriors seem to be leading the race.
Porziņģis has played in seven of the last nine games for Golden State, a positive sign of his recovery. He’s hopeful about participating in back-to-back games soon.
“I think it's a conversation,” he said. “I'm doing pretty good and recovering well.
The better I feel, the better I start to look. I'll probably earn more minutes and then hopefully get a chance on a back-to-back.
That's what I'm working towards.”
Building chemistry with Curry is another key factor. Since Porziņģis joined the team shortly after Curry suffered “runner’s knee,” they haven’t shared the court yet.
However, Porziņģis is eager for that opportunity. “Yeah, for sure, just more open looks, honestly,” he said about playing with Curry.
“It takes a little bit of time to get a rhythm, to get a feel for where he's running, what he’s doing and where he's expecting the ball.”
With nine regular-season games and a play-in tournament opener looming, the Warriors are eager to see how Porziņģis and Curry mesh on the court. The team is expected to provide an update on Curry’s return soon, and Porziņģis is understandably keen to team up with the player who has redefined the game.
“To be on the same team, just to be around him, even without playing, it's pretty cool. To learn from him, hear how he sees the game, it’s something you don’t take for granted.”
As the Warriors look to the future, the potential Curry-Porziņģis partnership could be a game-changer.