On Monday, the Boston Celtics faced off against the Golden State Warriors on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. For many American players, this holiday is a moment to honor the legacy of Dr. King, who championed civil rights and justice. However, for Celtics star Kristaps Porzingis, the cultural importance of the day seems less familiar.
As a Latvian native, Porzingis understandably may not fully grasp the historical weight of the holiday. When asked on Monday night about playing on MLK Day, his response became the topic of heated online discussions.
“It’s huge, it’s huge. A lot of celebration today. Good that we had some police escort to get to the arena. And it’s always nice to play on a holiday,” Porzingis said.
Kristaps has no idea who MLK is 😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/R8SHk00tQT
— BricksCenter (@BricksCenter) January 20, 2025
The seemingly off-the-cuff remarks left fans divided. Some found humor in the situation, appreciating that Porzingis at least attempted to respond to the question despite appearing unaware of the deeper meaning of the day. Others, however, criticized the reporter for asking such a culturally specific question to an international player.
he just know it a holiday lmao
— ً (@_nuh_uh) January 21, 2025
A good safe answer
— LBFi (@LowBudgetFi) January 20, 2025
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At least he pretended to knows lol 🫣🫣🫣
— George Tai (@George8644Tai) January 20, 2025
The man is foreign give him a break 🤣🤣
— Financial Freedom (@TeslaMainCore) January 21, 2025
He’s European, unless he was learning American history overseas he’s not going to know every single historical US person
— Trigeki (@trigeki) January 21, 2025
Joe Mazzulla Lauds Kristaps Porzingis After MLK Day Win
The Boston Celtics earned a commanding 125-85 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and Kristaps Porzingis was a key factor in the win. Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla praised Porzingis’ performance in the post-game press conference, noting how he is continuing to find his rhythm.
“He’s getting more comfortable. Obviously, we want to involve him as much as we can. But I think he’s getting comfortable having an understanding of how he’s being defended. One, getting into a rhythm playing consecutive games and getting used to being with the guys,” Mazzulla said.
Porzingis finished the game with 18 points, seven rebounds, and two assists. With the win, the Celtics improved to 30-13 in the season.
