Kristaps Porzingis of Latvia announced on social media Tuesday that he will miss the FIBA Basketball World Cup because of a foot issue.
The 7-foot-3 center, a new member of the Boston Celtics after a three-team trade with the Washington Wizards in June, was set to lead Latvia in the World Cup, which begins Aug. 25 in Japan, the Philippines and Indonesia.
“After several weeks of recovery and a repeat MRI examination, the plantar fasciitis of my foot still prevents me from being on the field in full readiness,” Porzingis said on Twitter in his native language.
“This joint decision has been made by both the medical staff and coaching staff of the national team, as well as the Celtics team — with the advice and opinion that it is now necessary to continue the recovery process.”
Porzingis, 28, averaged a career-best 23.2 points for the Wizards last season as well as 8.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.5 blocks in 65 games. He also shot a career-best 49.8 percent from the floor, with his 38.5 percent accuracy on 3-pointers the second best of his career.
A 2017-18 All-Star, Porzingis has averaged 19.6 points and 7.9 rebounds in seven seasons with the New York Knicks (2015-18), Dallas Mavericks (2019-22) and Wizards (2022-23).
Porzingis exercised the $36-million option on his contract for the upcoming season to facilitate the trade that saw guard Marcus Smart dealt to the Memphis Grizzlies.
Boston later signed Porzingis to a two-year extension that runs through the 2025-26 season.
—Field Level Media
