By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Kristaps Porzingis seems unwilling to consider a contract extension before focusing on the 2025-26 NBA Regular Season with the Atlanta Hawks.
“I know that’s an option. I wanna see how the year goes,” said the 30-year-old forward/center in a recent conversation with The Athletic. “I wanna show that I’m playing at a high level again, that I’m healthy, that I’m everything, and then that kind of stuff will take care of itself, you know? We’ll see.”
Porzingis is eligible for a new contract this season, but he will become an unrestricted free agent next summer if he does not re-sign with the Hawks.
“I don’t wanna rush anything and say this or that, but I wanna take it one day at a time,” he explained.
Last July, shortly before focusing on his EuroBasket 2025 spell with the senior national team of Latvia, the Liepaja native was traded away from the Boston Celtics and carried his contract to the Hawks. He is set to earn approximately $30.7 million next season.
Logging six appearances in Riga, Porzingis averaged 20.2 points, 8.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.7 blocks, and 0.5 steals per contest, helping his country land 12th on the final standings.
Up next is his tenth active NBA campaign, following two years with the C’s, including the 2023-24 championship season, one with the Washington Wizards, three with the Dallas Mavericks, and four with the New York Knicks. The latter organization drafted him with the fourth overall pick in 2015.