What Happened to Kristaps Porziņģis?
Kristaps Porziņģis, nicknamed "The Unicorn" for his versatile skills as a big man, is a Latvian professional basketball player whose NBA career has been marked by flashes of brilliance, multiple team changes, and persistent injury struggles. After being drafted by the New York Knicks, he played for the Dallas Mavericks, Washington Wizards, and won an NBA championship with the Boston Celtics in 2024 before being traded to the Atlanta Hawks in 2025 and then to his current team, the Golden State Warriors, in early 2026. He continues to navigate injury concerns while contributing to the Warriors' playoff push.
Quick Answer
Kristaps Porziņģis is currently a professional basketball player for the Golden State Warriors, having been traded to the team in February 2026. He recently played on March 27, 2026, scoring 28 points against the Washington Wizards, despite ongoing concerns about his health, including recent back spasms. Porziņģis is in the final year of his contract and will become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2025-26 NBA season, with the Warriors evaluating his long-term fit amidst his injury history.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline14 events
Born in Liepāja, Latvia
Kristaps Porziņģis was born in Liepāja, Latvia, and began playing basketball at age six.
Began professional career with Sevilla
Porziņģis started his professional career with Baloncesto Sevilla in the Spanish Basketball League.
Won EuroCup Rising Star award
At age 19, Porziņģis became the youngest recipient of the EuroCup Basketball Rising Star award.
Drafted 4th overall by New York Knicks
Porziņģis was selected as the fourth overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft by the New York Knicks, becoming the highest-drafted Latvian in NBA history.
Named NBA All-Star
Porziņģis was selected as an NBA All-Star during his time with the New York Knicks.
Traded to Dallas Mavericks
Following disagreements with the front office and recovering from an ACL injury, Porziņģis was traded to the Dallas Mavericks.
Traded to Washington Wizards
The Mavericks traded Porziņģis to the Washington Wizards in exchange for Spencer Dinwiddie and Dāvis Bertāns.
Traded to Boston Celtics
Porziņģis was traded to the Boston Celtics as part of a three-team deal.
Signed 2-year, $60M extension with Celtics
Porziņģis signed a two-year, $60 million contract extension with the Boston Celtics, keeping him under contract through the 2025-26 season.
Won NBA Championship with Boston Celtics
Porziņģis achieved his first NBA championship with the Boston Celtics.
Suffered calf strain in playoffs
Porziņģis suffered a calf strain in Game 4 of the first round of the 2024 NBA playoffs, missing subsequent games.
Traded to Atlanta Hawks
Porziņģis was traded from the Boston Celtics to the Atlanta Hawks in 2025.
Traded to Golden State Warriors
Porziņģis was traded to the Golden State Warriors in exchange for Buddy Hield and Jonathan Kuminga.
Scored 28 points against Washington Wizards
Porziņģis scored 28 points and had 8 assists in a Golden State Warriors' 131-126 victory over the Washington Wizards.
🔍Deep Dive Analysis
Kristaps Porziņģis, born August 2, 1995, in Liepāja, Latvia, began his professional basketball journey with Sevilla in Spain in 2012, quickly rising through the ranks and earning the EuroCup Rising Star award in 2015. His unique combination of height (7 ft 2 in), shooting ability, and defensive prowess earned him the nickname "The Unicorn."
He was drafted fourth overall by the New York Knicks in the 2015 NBA Draft, where he quickly became a fan favorite and an All-Star in 2018. However, disagreements with the Knicks' front office and an ACL injury led to his trade to the Dallas Mavericks in 2019. His tenure in Dallas was plagued by injuries and inconsistent play, preventing him from consistently forming a formidable duo with Luka Dončić. He was subsequently traded to the Washington Wizards in 2022, where he experienced a bounce-back season, averaging a career-high 23 points in 2022-23.
In June 2023, Porziņģis was traded to the Boston Celtics as part of a three-team deal. He signed a two-year, $60 million extension with the Celtics through the 2025-26 season. With Boston, he achieved a significant career milestone, winning an NBA championship in 2024. Despite the championship, his playoff run was interrupted by a calf strain in April 2024 and a torn medial retinaculum in his left leg during the Finals.
Following the 2024 championship, Porziņģis was traded again in 2025 to the Atlanta Hawks. His time with the Hawks was brief, as he was traded to the Golden State Warriors on February 5, 2026, in exchange for Buddy Hield and Jonathan Kuminga. Since joining the Warriors, Porziņģis has continued to battle various ailments, including Achilles tendon issues and recurring illnesses in late 2025 and early 2026. As of March 28, 2026, he has been managing back spasms, which caused him to exit a game against Detroit and be ruled out for a game against Atlanta, though he returned to play on March 27, 2026, against the Washington Wizards, contributing 28 points and 8 assists in a Warriors victory. He is an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2025-26 season, and the Warriors are currently evaluating his long-term future with the team, considering his talent and persistent injury concerns.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Kristaps Porziņģis made different choices?