BOSTON — While all the fanfare around Kristaps Porzingis have been his return to Dallas and his relationship with Luka Doncic, there are other characters in that story. That includes Mavs guard Tim Hardaway Jr., who not only played with Porzingis in Dallas but also dating back to their New York days.
Not just that: Hardaway was included in that original Porzingis deal that sent multiple players from the Knicks to the Mavs. So they’ve spent multiple seasons together sharing a locker room while also hopping to a new team in the same deal. And when it comes to Porzingis himself, Hardaway only had positive things to say about his former teammate.
“KP was a great teammate,” Hardaway said. “I played with him for many years. Injuries played a big role in that, a big part in that. When healthy, he’s very dominant, shoot the 3-ball well, block shots. I know deep down he’s going to be ready. We’re going to be ready, too.”
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Hardaway declined to detail why things didn’t work out for Porzingis and the Mavericks a couple seasons ago. Porzingis spent 2019-22 with the Mavs as he was supposed to be Doncic’s running mate in Dallas. But Porzingis’ time was cut short as he was unceremoniously dealt to the Wizards at the 2022 trade deadline.
But both sides have had plenty of success since parting ways. The Mavs went to the West Finals in 2022 and they’re now in the Finals for the first time since 2011. Porzingis had to rehabilitate his image, but he played great ball in Washington. He’s also been a key part of the Celtics’ equation this season, elevating their play on both sides of the ball.
So there are plenty of familiar faces going both ways (and can’t forget about Kyrie Irving’s return to Boston). While the storylines have dominated the conversation after the lengthy break for both teams, the Finals finally tip off for Game 1 at 8:30 p.m. Thursday at the Garden. So all the focus will be on there going forward.
“We went on a journey,” Hardaway said. “We both got traded from New York at the same time. Yeah, I would say definitely a journey. Must have done something right because the journey ended here in the Finals. To me, that’s all that matters. I’m happy for him to be in this situation. Myself, as well.”
