Porzingis: Part of me 'very, very happy' for Knicks after Celtics' loss
Kristaps Porziņgis was experiencing mixed emotions after the Boston Celtics' season-ending loss to the New York Knicks on Friday night.
The Celtics center, who began his NBA career with the Knicks, praised his former team and the support its fanbase showed to him throughout the teams' Eastern Conference semifinal series.
"Honestly, the support from the Knicks fans was through the roof tonight and all throughout the playoffs," Kristaps told reporters following the Celtics' 119-81 loss to the Knicks in Game 6, via SNY. "Unbelievable fans, unbelievable city.
"There's a side of me that's very, very happy for them, and I wish them nothing but the best. They're class players that we played against, and they've done great things, and I wish them nothing but success."
Porziņgis was drafted No. 4 overall by the Knicks in 2015 and spent the first four seasons of his career with the team before being traded to the Dallas Mavericks. He joined the Celtics in 2023 and helped lead Boston to a championship last season.
The Knicks will face the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference finals, which kicks off Wednesday.