'Stop That Idiot!' Celtics Fans Nervous After Knicks Ex Kristaps Porzingis Trade

Celtics fans are aware of Kristaps Porzingis' awful injury history, from his days with the Knicks and then after his trade from New York to the Dallas Mavs, too. And so the World Cup is bothering them ...

"Stop that idiot!''? Yes, that sounds like something a Boston Celtics fan might say, and in fairness, it is the sort of thing that often accompanies injury-related thoughts when it comes to old New York Knicks pal Kristaps Porzingis.

KP is on the move again, the Celtics having acquired the 27-year-old giant from the Washington Wizards this week. Porzingis opted into the final year of his contract to complete the trade, giving him a $36 million salary for the 2023-24 NBA season ...

And giving fans of the Celtics deep, deep worry lines. The positive part of the story for Boston (and obviously, not for the Knicks, who hope to again make the playoffs and advance)? The Celtics are now considered by many to be the best team in the Eastern Conference.

The negative part, to some Celtics fans? Porzingis will play in the FIBA World Cup this summer for his country, Latvia ... and Celtics fans have theoretical reasons to be worried about a potential injury.

If I’m the Celtics, I’m begging this dude not to play after what happened with Gallo last year. https://t.co/7Uk9HLzEIj

— Celtics Realist☘️ (@celtics_realist) June 28, 2023

Fans are expressing hope that the 7-3 Porzingis doesn't share the same fate as former Celtics standout Danilo Gallinari, who suffered a torn ACL while playing overseas last summer, which knocked him out the entire 2022-23 season.

"If I'm the Celtics, I'm begging this dude not to play after what happened to Gallo,'' writes one fan on Twitter.

But fans are also aware of KP's awful injury history, from his days with the Knicks and then after his trade from New York to the Dallas Mavs, too.

"The Celtics should absolutely stop that idiot from playing in this,'' writes another fan.

celtics absolutely should stop that idiot from playing in this https://t.co/JEmLJXTfrN

— J.R. (@getjoesoxon) June 28, 2023

Porzingis will join his fourth NBA team after spending three seasons with the New York Knicks, Dallas Mavericks, and two with the Washington Wizards. During his NBA career, Porzingis has averaged 19.6 points and 7.9 rebounds, something short of the "unicorn'' numbers in large part because of his health woes.

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