Latvia’s Kristaps Porzingis to miss FIBA World Cup due to foot injury

Kristaps Porzingis of Latvia introduced on social media Tuesday that he’ll miss the FIBA Basketball World Cup due to a foot problem.

The 7-foot-3 middle, a brand new member of the Boston Celtics after a three-team commerce with the Washington Wizards in June, was set to guide Latvia within 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 stated 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 factors for the Wizards final season in addition to 8.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.5 blocks in 65 video games. He additionally shot a career-best 49.8 % from the ground, together with his 38.5 % accuracy on 3-pointers the second better of his profession.

A 2017-18 All-Star, Porzingis has averaged 19.6 factors and seven.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 possibility on his contract for the upcoming season to facilitate the commerce that noticed guard Marcus Smart dealt to the Memphis Grizzlies.

Boston later signed Porzingis to a two-year extension that runs by way of the 2025-26 season.

–Field Level Media/Reuters