Kristaps Porzingis sends touching message to Celtics fans following blockbuster trade to the Hawks

Kristaps Porzingis is set to make a significant move to the Atlanta Hawks, as he eagerly awaits the official unveiling in the team’s jersey. His departure from the Boston Celtics is bittersweet after clinching an NBA championship and becoming a fan favorite due to his charismatic personality and impactful play on the court.

This blockbuster trade presents a fresh opportunity for Porzingis. The Latvian standout has established himself as one of the most influential European players in the NBA. With the Hawks, Porzingis aims to fill crucial roles that could bolster star player Trae Young and elevate the team’s performance.

As he transitions to his new team, Porzingis took a moment to express his gratitude to the Celtics’ fan base. In a heartfelt message, he emphasized how honored he felt wearing Boston’s jersey over the past two seasons.

“Boston will always hold a special place in my heart. Huge thank you to the organization, coaches, staff, my teammates, and the fans. Class organization. Forever grateful,” Porzingis shared on his social media account following the trade announcement by ESPN’s Shams Charania.

Porzingis in three-team trade

The Celtics have emerged as key players in a blockbuster trade involving the Atlanta Hawks and the Brooklyn Nets. According to Charania, the Celtics have agreed to a deal that will see them exchange positions in the 2025 NBA Draft while several players, including Terance Mann and Georges Niang, will be swapping teams.

“Boston, Atlanta, and Brooklyn are finalizing a three-team trade that sends Kristaps Porzingis and a second-round pick to the Hawks, Terance Mann and Atlanta’s No. 22 pick to the Nets, and Georges Niang along with a second-rounder to the Celtics,” Charania reported on his social media platform.

Porzingis’ impact with the Celtics

Porzingis has been a significant contributor since joining the Boston Celtics in the 2023-2024 NBA season. Just finishing his last season with the team (2024-2025), Porzingis played a pivotal role, although the Celtics fell short in the Eastern Conference semifinals against the New York Knicks. His presence on the court has undoubtedly made a notable impact on the Celtics’ performance and aspirations.

These are Porzingis’ stats with the Celtics:

• Regular Season (2023-2024 & 2024-2025 Combined – approximately):
  • Games Played: 119 games
  • Points Per Game (PPG): 19.8 PPG
  • Rebounds Per Game (RPG): 7.0 RPG
  • Assists Per Game (APG): 2.0 APG
  • Blocks Per Game (BPG): 1.8 BPG
  • Steals Per Game (SPG): 0.7 SPG
  • Field Goal Percentage (FG%): High 40s to low 50s (e.g., 49.8% – 51.5%), showing efficient scoring for a big man.
  • 3-Point Percentage (3P%): Mid to high 30s (e.g., 37.0% – 38.5%), which is excellent for a player of his size and a key part of the Celtics’ spacing.
  • Free Throw Percentage (FT%): High 80s (e.g., 86.0% – 87.5%)