
Kristaps Porzingis's basketball story began in Liepāja, Latvia, where he was born into a family of basketball players. Both his parents played the sport, making basketball a natural part of his life from an early age. Standing at an impressive 7 feet 2 inches tall, Porzingis, unlike most players his size, could shoot like a guard while also protecting the rim – skills that would later earn him the nickname "unicorn" in the NBA.
Before he joined the NBA, Porzingis fine-tuned his talent in Spain’s Liga ACB with Sevilla basketball club. His skills did not go unnoticed and in the year 2015, he was drafted by the New York Knicks as the fourth overall pick. While some Knicks fans questioned the decision, Porzingis could demonstrate his worth during the first season by averaging 14.3 points along with 7.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists. Porzingis has played for several teams including the Dallas Maverick and Washington Wizard. As of April 2025 he is signed to the Boston Celtics, and has proven to be an elite big-man for them. During the 2023-24 season, he played a vital role for the Celtics scoring 20.1 points alongside 7.2 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game. He was one of the key players that led the Celtics to their 18th NBA title in the 2023-24 season.
Kristaps Porzingis Siblings
Kristaps Porzingis comes from a basketball-loving family and has two older brothers: Mārtiņš Porzingis, who is approximately 15 years older than Kristaps, and Jānis Porzingis, who is also 13 years older than the Celtics' center. The family also had another son, Toms, who was born four years before Kristaps but tragically passed away at 14 months old, as revealed in a 2017 E:60 documentary on Kristaps Porzingis' life.
Jānis Porzingis
Jānis had a professional basketball career spanning 14 years, during which he played for 15 different teams across various European leagues, including the Italian League. He competed at the EuroCup level and represented the Latvian national team. During Kristaps's early career at Cajasol Sevilla in Spain, Jānis served as a mentor, regularly calling his younger brother after games to offer guidance. After retiring from professional basketball in 2015, Jānis took on a new role as Kristaps's agent in the NBA.
Mārtiņš Porzingis
While less is publicly known about Mārtiņš, he remains an active supporter of his youngest brother's career. He frequently attends Kristaps's NBA games and shares these moments on his social media accounts, showing his continued support for his brother's professional journey.
Also read: Kristaps Porzingis' Parents
FAQs on Kristaps Porzingis
A. Kristaps Porzingis plays for the Boston Celtics in the NBA, as of April 2025.
A. Kristaps Porzingis was drafted as the fourth overall pick by the New York Knicks in the 2015 NBA Draft.
A. Kristaps Porzingis os 7 feet 2 inches tall.
A. Kristaps Porzingis plays as Power Forward and Center for the Boston Celtics.