Biography - Kristaps Porzingis

Who is Kristaps Porzingis?

Kristaps Porzingis is a basketball player by profession and Latvian by nationality. He has played for the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and is one of the tallest active players in the NBA at a height of 2.21 m.

Kristaps Porzingis – Age, Parents, Siblings

Kristaps Porzingis was born on August 2, 1995, in Liepaja, Latvia to Talis Porzingis and Ingrida Porzingis. Both his parents were basketball players before switching to another profession. His father was a semi-professional basketball player who later worked as a bus driver while his mother was on Latvia women's youth national basketball team.

Porzingis is not the only child of his parents and has two siblings- older brothers Janis Porzingis, also a professional basketball player, and Martins Porzingis, an avid player who is 15 years older than Kristaps Porzingis. The Porzingis family also had another son, Toms, who was four years older than Kristaps Porzingis but died at 14 months.

Education, Ethnicity

Although most of his childhood days are known, his educational history is vacant. His ethnicity is Latvian.

Kristaps Porzingis – Girlfriend, Wife, Children

Since his rise to fame a few years ago, he has dated several women including models and social media stars. But most of his romantic affairs seem to be short hookups rather than a committed relationship.

In September 2021, Porzingis, who has always been private about his dating life shared on Instagram he is in a relationship with his girlfriend Laura Vizla. Although it has not been confirmed, there are speculations stating they met in the summer of 2019.

Kristaps Porzingis is currently unmarried, sans wife and children.

Kristaps Porzingis – Career

Before fame

Kristaps Porzingis began to basketball at age 6. When he turned 12, his older brother Janis, who was already a professional player in Europe began taking him to offseason training sessions. Until the age of 15, he played for BK Liepajas Lauvas.

In 2010, he was signed into the Spanish club Baloncesto Sevilla. Overcoming the medical condition anemia, Porzingis quickly rose through the team's youth ranks. And by 2013, he was the figurehead of the senior team.

Played for/in

From 2013 to 2014, Kristaps Porzingis played the second season for Baloncesto Sevilla against Laboral Kutxa. Despite his team losing, he did gain much social media fame due to her impressive performance. In April 2014, he himself declared that he was eligible for the 2014 NBA draft but withdrew his name a day before the draft so that he could his skills until the 2015 draft.

From 2014 to 2015, Porzingis played against EWE Baskets Oldenburg, Pallacanestro Virtu, Roma  Estudiantes, Bàsquet Manresa, and Turów Zgorzelec and was named the winner of the EuroCup Rising Star Award of the season.

Also read: Bobby Portis - Basketball player for Washington Wizards 

On 25 June 2015, Porzingis was chosen in the  2015 NBA draft by the New York Knicks and on 30 July 2015, he signed his rookie contract with the Knicks. He played against Houston Rockets, and Chicago Bulls and was named  Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month of December and January and earned  NBA All-Rookie First Team honors.

From 2016 to 2018, he played against Detroit Pistons, Los Angeles Lakers, Washington Wizards, Oklahoma City Thunder, Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers, and Milwaukee Bucks. On 31 January 2019, he was traded to the Dallas Mavericks.

Due to his ACL injury, Porzingis did not play in the 2018 to 2019 season for The Knicks.

Also read: Donovan Mitchell - Basketball player for Utah Jazz 

Played with/against

Kristaps Porzingis has played with Sevilla teammates Willy Hernangómez and Karl-Anthony Towns. 

Kristaps Porzingis – Rape accusation

According to law-enforcement sources, hours after Porzingis suffered a knee injury at Madison Square Garden on Feb. 7, 2018, he invited a neighbor to his luxury Manhattan penthouse and raped her.

The accuser, who is In her 20s also admitted to the cops that she had stayed silent as she was promised $68,000 in hush money from the basketball star in the name of paying for her brother’s college tuition — but then reneged.

Kristaps Porzingis, however, has denied the allegation and the FBI is investigating on the matter. His lawyer Roland G. Riopelle released a statement, 

“We made a formal referral to federal law enforcement on December 20th, 2018, based on the accuser’s extortionate demands. We also alerted the National Basketball Association months ago and they are aware of the ongoing investigation of the accuser by federal law enforcement. We cannot comment further on an ongoing federal investigation."

Porzingis’ brother Janis Porzingis, who is also his agent said,

“I think that night we got back home, we made four shots. I just said: ‘To a new beginning. We drink the shot and started the next day as a new beginning. That’s what we did. The shock moment. I would say lasted for a day and half. When you know those things happen, you never think it’s going to happen to him. It’s a shock. You can’t believe that’s happening actually.”

Also read: Romeo Langford - basketball player for Boston Celtics 

Kristaps Porzingis – Net Worth, Salary

His net worth and annual salary are estimated at around $30 million and $31.65 million respectively. Also, Forbes reported in June 2019 that he has signed a five-year $158 Million Contract with The Mavericks. 

Kristaps Porzingis – Instagram, Twitter, Facebook

On Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, Kristaps Porzingis is followed by several hundred thousand followers.

Also read: Cameron Reddish - Basketball player for Atlanta Hawks