The Celtics have been setting new heights all through this complete season, not solely clinching the NBA’s greatest file with their 62-win marketing campaign, however have additionally reached new particular person marks. Simply as Kristaps Porzingis earned himself the Japanese Convention’s Participant of the Week award, he grew to become the fourth Boston participant this 12 months to obtain the respect.
The star huge man appears to be perfecting his type proper when his crew wants him probably the most, simply forward of the Celtics’ promising playoff push with hopes to lastly earn the franchise’s 18th championship, and first in over 15 years.
Final week Boston handed one other excellent 4-0 slate, with their heart averaging averaging 19.8 factors, 10.0 rebounds, and three.0 blocks per match. This feat is much more spectacular contemplating that final month the 28-year-old missed out on five-straight contests whereas recovering from an damage, however returned stronger than ever.
Kristaps Porzingis participant of the week highlights:
19.6 PTS | 72.8% TS |10 REB | 3.2 AST | 1.6 STL | 3.2 BLK
All hail Latvia. pic.twitter.com/J0UiHOiPoY
— Jake Issenberg (@jakeissenberg) April 9, 2024
The opposite three teammates who’ve earned the Participant of the Week accolade this season have been Jayson Tatum (Nov. 6), Jaylen Brown (March 4), and Derrick White (March 25). With this new mark, the Massachusetts membership are the primary to realize this because the award’s inception again within the 1979/80 marketing campaign.
“He’s a huge effect,” Brown stated concerning the Latvian huge man. “Simply him being on the ground, his skill to shoot the ball, however then his skill to put up up mismatches and be environment friendly in these regards. However then, what’s most necessary to me is the defensive aspect, his skill to simply be stable, put his fingers up, and contest photographs on the rim.
The three-time All-Star is satisfied that Porzingis got here to Boston to take them to a different stage than the 12 months earlier than. “When he makes his thoughts up and is doing that, not taking any performs off, I believe that takes our crew to a complete different stage,” he shared.
“We encourage that increasingly as a result of within the playoffs it could possibly be one possession or two possessions that determines the sport. We want that KP to point out up, to be sturdy, and to be that impactful participant that we’ve seen all 12 months,” Jaylen insisted.
Brown grew to become the fifteenth Celtics athlete to ever attain the ten,000-point threshold this previous Sunday
The Boston squad is breaking information as we go, as Jaylen Brown reached a mark most gamers his age would solely dream to own. This previous Sunday, the purpose guard achieved 10,000 profession factors after they beat the Path Blazers 124 to 107.
The 27-year-old confirmed his appreciation for the followers which have been supporting him ever since he was chosen because the No. 3 total decide by the Massachusetts membership within the 2016 NBA Draft. “It was nice,” stated the previous College of California star. “Particularly all of the supporters who’ve been supporting me from day one.”
Whereas reflecting on his NBA journey, he recalled his upbringing. “Simply coming from my background,” he shared, “single-parent family, simply my household, with the ability to have a possibility to simply change issues.
“While you look again on every part, all I can say is I’m extremely grateful to be on this place. It’s been a whole lot of exhausting work and energy, however I’m extraordinarily blessed on the similar time. So, I don’t take that as a right. … I’m wanting ahead to simply persevering with to develop, persevering with to enhance, and maximizing my potential.”
