By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Latvia suffered a significant blow when it was revealed that Kristaps Porzingis couldn’t assist his national team at the upcoming 2023 FIBA World Cup.
A foot injury prevented him from representing Latvia, but he still wanted to be with his teammates. The Boston Celtics’ center decided to travel to Indonesia with the blessings of the NBA club despite the need to continue his rehabilitation.
“I said being around is important, even though I’m not playing. They supported my decision. Also, there’s a long season ahead. It’s important for me to spend time with my teammates, with my family, and Boston respected my decision,” Porzingis explained in an interview with Sporta Studija.
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He was with Luca Banchi and his players throughout the preparations, but the injury was too persistent.
“I have an idea where the injury occurred. But an injury develops during a career and then jumps onto the field. During the training process, it started to hurt. There has never been anything like it. I felt that there were no options to achieve the shape I wanted. There was no logic in trying to break my feet,” the Latvian center concluded.
Without being able to play, Kristaps Porzingis will support Rodions Kurucs, Davis Bertans, Dairis Bertans, Rolands Smits, Arturs Strautins, Klavs Cavars, Aigars Skele, Andrejs Grazulis, Anzejs Pasecniks, Arturs Kurucs, Arturs Zagars, and Kristers Zoriks in their fight to advance from a very tough Group H at the World Cup, alongside Lebanon, Canada, and France.
Photo Credit: FIBA.BASKETBALL