Kristaps Porzingis Returns Strong After Battling Prolonged Illness

The Celtics star revealed struggles with an unidentified illness that sidelined him for eight games, but helped secure a narrow win in his return.

Kristaps Porzingis missed eight games due to a non-COVID illness, later identified as an upper respiratory infection that progressed into bronchitis-like symptoms.
Porzingis described the illness as the worst he had ever experienced, causing severe fatigue and making recovery unusually prolonged.
In his return against the Brooklyn Nets, Porzingis scored 24 points in 32 minutes, contributing to a 115-113 Celtics victory despite lingering fatigue.
The Celtics center addressed public skepticism about his absence, explaining that the severity of his condition left him unable to play or train effectively.
Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla praised Porzingis' resilience and work ethic, emphasizing his importance to the team's championship aspirations.