The ‘Happy’ Kristaps Porzingis Is Not Playing in the All-Star Game

This season, Kristaps Porzingis is playing All-Star level basketball, averaging 20.4 points, 7.0 rebounds, and over 2.0 blocks per game.

With two games remaining before the All-Star break, the Boston Celtics defeated the Miami Heat 110-106 on Super Bowl Sunday.

On February 18 in Indianapolis, Indiana, it appeared like the club leading the NBA standings, 41-12, would field three players in the league’s premier exhibition match.

Though there were strong arguments for Derrick White or Kristaps Porzingis, the seven-foot-three center seemed to have the upper hand because Joel Embiid and Julius Randle were the frontcourt players who had to fill in due to injuries.

But neither White nor Porzingis will be joining Jaylen Brown, who was invited for the third time, or five-time pick Jayson Tatum, who will start in the All-Star Game for the fourth consecutive year.

Rather, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver selected Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes and Atlanta Hawks’ Trae Young, whose game is perfect for this situation.

From a commercial and marketing perspective, it’s a smart move to allow more clubs to be represented in this year’s All-Star Game, and those are excellent decisions.

Even though Porzingis would have preferred to be chosen, following the Celtics’ 133-129 victory over the Washington Wizards on Friday, he expressed and seemed to be more grateful for the reasons that a break is probably better for him.

“Of course, there’s some prestige in that, and maybe five years ago, that was something that was always on my mind, but it doesn’t change anything, to be honest,” said the native of Latvia. “A significant portion of me is content. I can get a tan, lift some weights, and prepare my body for the postseason by traveling to Miami or another sunny location.”

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