Atlanta Hawks center Kristaps Porzingis is representing Latvia in the 2024 EuroBasket, which started on August 27 and will run through September 14. Porzingis aims to guide his national team to success and has shown strong form in the warm-up games played earlier this month. The Kristaps Porzingis EuroBasket Ranking places him as one of the premier talents in the tournament, solidifying his importance on and off the court.
How Porzingis Compares to Other Elite Players in the Tournament
Porzingis is widely recognized for his scoring ability and defensive presence in the paint, making him one of the standouts in this year’s competition. His ranking at No. 6 among all NBA stars in EuroBasket 2024 reflects his impressive skill set, placing him just behind stars like Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Luka Doncic, Franz Wagner, and Alperen Sengun. According to ESPN’s Neil Paine, Porzingis is returning to EuroBasket after a standout performance in 2017 when he was just 21, averaging 23.6 points and 6.0 rebounds while helping Latvia finish fifth.
“After a successful stint with the Celtics that helped bring Boston the 2024 NBA title, the one-time
unicorn
turns to the next chapter of his hoops career. Before he takes the court for the Hawks, though, he will add to a EuroBasket résumé that has been dormant for nearly a decade. A 21-year-old Porziņģis impressed for Latvia in 2017, averaging 23.6 points and 6.0 rebounds as Latvia finished fifth. This year’s roster, which also features former NBA players Dāvis and Dairis Bertāns, has lower expectations with the ninth-best odds. But Latvia did finish fifth in the 2023 FIBA World Cup and is the main host country for EuroBasket 2025, which should provide a bump in Porziņģis’ performance.”
—Neil Paine, ESPN Analyst
Porzingis’ Impact on the Atlanta Hawks and His Skill Set
Porzingis has been one of the most valuable offseason additions for the Atlanta Hawks, providing a rare shooting threat at the center position that the team lacked. His ability to spread the floor and serve as an ideal pick-and-roll partner for Trae Young enhances Atlanta’s offensive versatility. Beyond shooting, Porzingis is also a formidable rim protector and excels as an interior defender, contributing to the Hawks’ defensive schemes.
During the 2024-25 NBA season, Porzingis averaged 19.5 points and 6.8 rebounds per game while shooting a career-best 41.2% from three-point range. He also contributed 2.1 assists and 1.5 blocks per game in about 29 minutes on the floor, boasting an overall field goal percentage of 48.3% and free-throw accuracy of 80.9%. His three-point percentage ranked him 25th in the NBA and second among all seven-footers, trailing only Karl-Anthony Towns.
Remarkably, Porzingis twice matched a career-high with eight made three-pointers in a single game during the season, a feat no other seven-footer has accomplished multiple times. Over his nine-year NBA career, Porzingis has played 501 games, averaging 19.6 points, 7.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.8 blocks with a field goal accuracy of 46.1% and three-point shooting at 36.6%. His defensive impact is notable, ranking sixth among active NBA players in blocks per game.
Porzingis’ career totals include 909 blocks and 950 successful three-pointers, making him one of only ten players in league history to reach 900 or more in both categories. Additionally, he is among five active players to have accomplished at least 50 three-pointers and 50 blocks per season for nine consecutive years, according to Elias Sports. This combination of shooting and shot-blocking is rare and highlights his unique skill set at the center position.
If he remains healthy throughout the season, Porzingis is expected to be a key contributor to Atlanta’s ambitions for a deep playoff run, leveraging his scoring and defensive ability to elevate the team’s overall performance.
Broader Context: Latvia’s Prospects and EuroBasket’s Growing Stage
Latvia’s team for EuroBasket 2024 includes several former NBA players such as the Bertāns brothers, but expectations are more modest compared to previous tournaments. However, Latvia’s strong showing with a fifth-place finish at the 2023 FIBA World Cup and their status as the host nation for EuroBasket 2025 could energize the squad and fans alike. Porzingis’ leadership will be central to any success Latvia hopes to achieve in this year’s competition and beyond.