The power forward of the Boston Celtics, Kristaps Porzingis, agreed to a new two-year extension worth $60 million, keeping him under contract for $96 million until the 2025-26 season, his agents Jeff Schwartz and Janis Porzingis of Excel Sports Management said to ESPN on Wednesday.
The parties finalized an agreement on Wednesday, over two weeks after Porzingis exercised his $36 million option for the 2023-2024 season to be included in a three-team trade to the Celtics that included the departure of guard Marcus Smart to the Memphis Grizzlies.
Porzingis, 27, comes to Boston after the best season of his NBA career with the Washington Wizards, averaging 23.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game.
After injuries and difficult departures with the Dallas Mavericks and the New York Knicks blocked what seemed to be a perennial All-Star career, Porzingis emerged as one of the best and most versatile players in the league in his season with Washington.
The Celtics rely on him to play a key role alongside All-NBA forwards Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown in the franchise's quest for a championship.
"I think these are the best years for a basketball player," Porzingis said in a recent press conference. "You're physically there, and mentally, you're reaching a different level. I think the work paid off for me. I looked at my game, I looked at how I could be more efficient, and really analyzed myself, and it was worth all the work I did off the court to stay healthy.
"My body is maturing, and reaching that age helped, and I think I have some great and high-level years ahead."