Joe Mazzulla says he reached out to Kristaps Porzingis after recent health update

Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla revealed that he and his staff reached out to former Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis following his decision to step away from basketball. Porzingis, 31, recently announced that he is stepping away from the game to prioritize his health, though he did not disclose specific details regarding the issue.

Mazzulla spoke with Porzingis from the team plane prior to Boston's 117-97 win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday, noting that the player is in a good space. Porzingis helped Boston win the 2024 NBA championship before later joining the Atlanta Hawks and eventually signing with the Golden State Warriors.