Kristaps Porzingis jokes about American car culture: ’Not as precise here, not as refined’

Boston Celtics star big man Kristaps Porzingis — who was born in the country of Latvia — recently insinuated that European car culture is superior to American car culture.

“It’s definitely different here,” Porzingis told Celtics Wire. “I would say cars here are kind of bigger, right? Parking spaces are definitely bigger. The driving culture is not as precise here, not as refined.”

Porzingis continued with his thoughts.

“Here somebody can be on the left lane forever driving slower than the right lane on the highway,” Porzingis added with a laugh. “You guys don’t have a great car culture.”

In June of 2023, the Celtics acquired Porzingis from the Washington Wizards in a three-team trade that also sent Marcus Smart to the Memphis Grizzlies.

The 28-year-old made his presence felt on both ends of the floor for Boston in the 2023-24 regular season. He averaged 20.1 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.9 blocks per game while shooting 51.6 percent from the field and 37.5 percent from 3-point range in 57 games played with the Celtics.

As for the offensive side of the ball, Porzingis averaged the third-most points per game on the Celtics during the regular season, behind only Jaylen Brown (23.0) and Jayson Tatum (26.9).

Porzingis’ penchant for blocking shots stood out as arguably his most valuable skill on the defensive end, considering he led the team in blocks per contest by a wide margin, as Derrick White averaged the second-most blocks per game with 1.2.

The Celtics and Porzingis finished the regular season with an incredible 64-18 record, which secured Boston the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference and home-court advantage throughout the 2024 NBA Playoffs.

But Boston has yet to find out who it will face off against in the opening round of the playoffs. The winner of Friday’s play-in matchup between the Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls will earn the No. 8 seed in the conference and a matchup against the Celtics in Round 1.

The Heat have given the Celtics a lot more trouble in the playoffs in recent years than the Bulls have. Miami eliminated Boston in the playoffs in the 2020 and 2023 Eastern Conference Finals.

With the start of the 2024 NBA Playoffs right around the corner, Porzingis’ Celtics debatably have as good a chance as any team in the league to capture the title.