Kristaps Porzingis. The 7’2’’ center who shoots three pointers like some of the best guards and moves like a mobile small forward. What else would you call him besides ‘The Unicorn’? He made an immediate impression after arriving in the NBA with his unique skill set for a tall, lanky center with the New York Knicks. His trade to the Dallas Mavericks and teaming up with the phenomenal Luka Doncic had Dallas fans dreaming of the franchise’s second championship. But it never materialised like everyone thought, and the Mavs traded him to basketball obscurity, that is, the Washington Wizards. Determined to prove his doubters, he had the best scoring season of his career in 2022-23 (averaging 23.2 points). That was enough for the Boston Celtics to trade for him the next offseason.
Porzingis was the missing piece of that roster, as his floor spacing allowed the likes of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown to make timely runs into the paint. His thunderous blocks protected the rim, and his thumping three-pointers gave the Cs an extra dimension to their game plan. He lifted the Larry O’Brien trophy that season, again proving his doubters wrong about him being productive and fit enough to be part of a championship team. But he didn’t just become ‘The Unicorn’ out of the blue. His journey has been fueled by his family’s belief in him and their constant support. Let’s take a deeper look at his parents and his siblings.
Who Are Kristaps Porzingis’ Parents?
Born in Liepāja, Latvia, Kristaps Porzingis comes from a basketball family. His father, Talis Porzingis, used to play the game at a semi-pro level before becoming a bus driver. Ingrida Porzingis, his mother, previously played for the Latvian women’s youth national basketball team. Coming from a basketball family, it is easy to see where he gets his talents from. Having learnt the game at his home from a very young age, Kristaps had the solid foundation and basketball fundamentals that helped him become the star he is today.
The Boston star is the youngest of the family, and he ended up carrying the weight of two lives. Confused? Here, let me explain. The Porzingis family had to suffer a terrible tragedy four years before Kristaps was born. Talis and Ingrida’s third child, Toms, passed away at an infant age of 14 months. Expectedly, the tragedy had a devastating impact on the family, as recalled by Ingrida in an E:60 ESPN show back in 2017, “It felt like a bulldozer had run over my life. We had two other children who we had to care for. We had to live on. After Kristaps was born, it was like he had to live for two lives.’’
No parent should ever have to bury their child. And that, too, after just 14 months of giving birth to him! It is definitely something only those who have gone through it will understand. Having to live for himself and the brother he never got to meet could have motivated him even more to realise his dream of making it to the highest levels of professional basketball. The bond between his parents and Kristaps is really strong, and their undying support is what most likely helped him overcome the many obstacles in his basketball career.
At the age of 15, he had to leave his country and stay far away from his parents when he joined the youth squads of Baloncesto Sevilla in Spain. He had trouble speaking the local language and could not communicate with his coaches and his teammates. But with his family’s support and his determination, he managed to tackle everything that stood in his way. He went on to become a hot property in European basketball and was named the EuroCup Rising Star in 2015.
When he moved to the United States after being drafted by the New York Knicks that same year, he had to adjust to a foreign country and culture once again. Thankfully, he had his parents with him to help with the transition and keep his head focused on work. In fact, they used to live with him to keep him out of trouble and stay locked in and humble. With a family bond like that, no player can ask for anything more. In addition to his parents, he also has his brothers to thank and be grateful to for pushing him and guiding him at every step of his journey.
Who Are Kristaps Porzingis’ Siblings?
Kristaps has two elder brothers, Janis and Martins Porzingis. Details about Martins’ private and professional life are not widely known. But we do know that he supports his brother actively: either through social media or by his frequent courtside visits to his games.
Janis, on the other hand, used to be a professional basketball player. He played for 15 different teams for over 10 years in Europe. He also has a few appearances for the Latvian national team under his belt. After retiring from the sport, he became his younger brother’s agent. With such vast experience in the professional world of basketball, Janis had the right knowledge about the mental and physical side of basketball. So, who else is better suited to handle Kristaps’ off-court life than his brother?
As mentioned by Kristaps in countless interviews over the years, Janis has been instrumental in pushing him to work hard every day and guiding him about the ins and outs of the basketball world. They used to watch and analyse game films together. And maybe that common love for the game must have cemented that strong bond they have. Janis’ mentorship on and off the court has made Kristaps Porzingis the humble, level-headed monster of a player he is known as.
Kristap’s tight-knit family bond has helped him deal with past injury-riddled seasons. It also helped him have the determination to constantly improve on his game despite spending a lot of time recovering from injuries. And now he is one of the central pieces of a team consisting of superstars like Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. He is an NBA champion. With the Boston Celtics, the likelihood of him lifting a few more trophies shortly is quite high. And we’ll all know who’s going to be cheering him the loudest every night.
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