A former Boston Celtics star, Kristaps Porzingis, found himself in an unexpected situation: coming off the bench for the Atlanta Hawks. This shift marks the first time since 2017 that Porzingis has played a regular-season game in a non-starting role. Let's dive into what happened and what it means.
Published on December 06, 2025, at 7:16 a.m., updated at 7:20 a.m.
After being sidelined with an illness, Porzingis was cleared to play on Friday, December 6, 2025, against the Denver Nuggets. However, with a 20-minute limit imposed on his return, Hawks coach Quinn Snyder opted to bring him off the bench. This decision was a departure from Porzingis's usual starting position at center.
"Obviously, it’s not what I love, you know?" Porzingis admitted to reporters. "But I think it makes sense in limited minutes, and I will do whatever is best for the team. When I say those words, I really mean it. I’m here just to help this team win."
Despite the unusual role, Porzingis made the most of his time on the court, scoring 25 points off the bench. This impressive performance came with 9 of 13 shooting, marking his third-highest scoring game of the season. It was only his 13th appearance with his new team after an offseason trade from Boston. He has also missed time due to multiple illnesses this season, though he clarified that these issues were unrelated to what he experienced in Boston last season.
"I wouldn’t say it’s the same thing," Porzingis stated, "Just wasn’t feeling too good, honestly. Just not being healthy, but I wouldn’t say it’s the same stuff from last season. That’s good."
He continued, "I think I kind of put that behind me even this summer playing for the national team. Anyway, just catching whatever, it’s frustrating. I want to be healthy. I want to be healthy and I will be healthy."
Currently, the Hawks are navigating a three-game losing streak and are positioned 1.5 games behind the Celtics in the standings. Fans can anticipate the first matchup between Porzingis and his former team on January 17 in Atlanta.
But here's where it gets controversial... Did the Hawks make the right call by benching Porzingis, even with a minutes restriction? Some might argue that his scoring ability is best utilized from the start, while others might see the bench role as a strategic move to ease him back into the game.
What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Brian Robb, the author, covers the Celtics and NBA for MassLive.com since 2010. You can reach him at BRobb@masslive.com.
