Kristaps Porziņģis already knows what he wants to do when his NBA days are over, and it’s not coaching, broadcasting, or front-office work.
“MMA is a sport that’s very close to my heart. It’s number one for watching,” the Atlanta Hawks big man told Sportacentrs. “It’s something I get fired up about, so I decided to join a new MMA project. Everything is still in process — once we get closer to the final result, I’ll be able to share more. This summer, I’ve also tried MMA, but I promised one of the clubs I represent that I wouldn’t pursue it during my basketball career. I’m saving myself for an MMA career after basketball.”
Porziņģis wouldn’t be the first professional athlete to step into the cage after retirement. The path has been taken before by the NFL’s Herschel Walker, Frank Gore, and Le’Veon Bell, along with NBA players Nate Robinson, Michael Carter-Williams, and Deron Williams. But at 7-foot-2, the Latvian center would be one of the tallest fighters to compete in MMA, bringing a size and reach advantage rarely seen even among heavyweights.
Atlanta Hawks’ Big Offseason Swing
While the idea of seeing Porziņģis in the Octagon may intrigue fans, Atlanta’s front office is more concerned with what he can deliver on the court. The Hawks acquired him from the Boston Celtics during the 2025 offseason in a move driven largely by Boston’s salary cap constraints.
With Jayson Tatum sidelined for the 2025–26 season due to a torn Achilles, the Celtics shifted toward payroll flexibility, sending Porziņģis to Atlanta as part of their retooling efforts.
For the Hawks, it was an opportunity to add an elite floor-spacing big man who can open driving lanes for Trae Young and protect the rim on the other end. In Boston, Porziņģis averaged 19.8 points, seven rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game over two seasons while shooting 39.2% from three-point range. He played a key role in the Celtics’ 2024 NBA championship run, even as injuries limited his playoff appearances.
His offensive versatility — combining pick-and-pop shooting with inside scoring — and defensive presence give Atlanta a unique piece in their quest to rise in a competitive Eastern Conference.
Battling Injuries, Chasing Impact
Durability remains the biggest question surrounding Porziņģis. His injury history includes hamstring, knee, calf, and ankle issues, as well as an ACL tear in 2018 that kept him out for over a year. Most recently, he underwent surgery in June 2024 after battling calf and leg problems during the Celtics’ playoff run, delaying his availability for the start of the 2024–25 season.
Despite the setbacks, Porziņģis insists he feels “fantastic” after a period of recovery and is eager to make his Hawks debut. “I feel like I can play at a very high level when I’m healthy, and my focus is on doing that here,” he told Latvian media earlier this offseason.
Atlanta is banking on that version of Porziņģis — the one who can stretch defenses with his shooting, anchor the paint defensively, and serve as a go-to option when the game slows down in the postseason. If he can stay healthy, his pairing with Young could prove to be one of the league’s most dangerous inside-out combinations.
An MMA career may be waiting in the wings, but for now, Porziņģis’ fight is about positioning the Hawks among the Eastern Conference elite.
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