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The 7-foot-3 center, a new member of the Boston
Celtics after a three-team trade with the Washington Wizards in
June, was set to lead Latvia in the World Cup, which begins Aug.
25 in Japan, the Philippines and Indonesia.
"After several weeks of recovery and a repeat MRI examination,
the plantar fasciitis of my foot still prevents me from being on
the field in full readiness," Porzingis said on Twitter in his
native language.
"This joint decision has been made by both the medical staff and
coaching staff of the national team, as well as the Celtics team
-- with the advice and opinion that it is now necessary to
continue the recovery process."
Porzingis, 28, averaged a career-best 23.2 points for the
Wizards last season as well as 8.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.5
blocks in 65 games. He also shot a career-best 49.8 percent from
the floor, with his 38.5 percent accuracy on 3-pointers the
second best of his career.
A 2017-18 All-Star, Porzingis has averaged 19.6 points and 7.9
rebounds in seven seasons with the New York Knicks (2015-18),
Dallas Mavericks (2019-22) and Wizards (2022-23).
Porzingis exercised the $36-million option on his contract for
the upcoming season to facilitate the trade that saw guard
Marcus Smart dealt to the Memphis Grizzlies.
Boston later signed Porzingis to a two-year extension that runs
through the 2025-26 season.
--Field Level Media
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