Endmost generation, a report came out of Germany that the Celtics’ Kristaps Porzingis would most likely pass over the Global Cup because of a understructure trauma. The Latvian nationwide staff temporarily and forcefully denied the document, announcing Porzingis deliberate to play games.

Tuesday, Porzingis announced on social media that he could be out for the Global Cup because of an ongoing plantar fasciitis factor in his understructure.

“After several weeks of recovery and a repeat MRI examination, the plantar fasciitis of my foot still prevents me from being on the field in full readiness. This joint decision has been made by both the medical staff and coaching staff of the national team, as well as the Celtics team… Such a decision is not easy to make, but I promise that I will be there and support the team as much as I can.”

Dropping its very best participant is a plenty setback for the Latvian staff, which was once already in a difficult Global Cup crew with France, Canada and Lebanon. A quantity now falls at the shoulders of Davis Bertans.

This information additionally will have to be a priority for the Celtics. They traded for Porzingis — and gave him a two-year, $60 million word extension — no longer handiest as a result of he averaged a career-best 23.2 issues a recreation with 8.4 rebounds and 1.5 blocks, but in addition as a result of he performed in 65 video games and was once necessarily wholesome. Put the Porzingis of latter season then to Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and the remains of a high-level Celtics core and this staff — month other and extra offensively centered than earlier years — is a sunlit identify contender.

Then again, 7’3″ Porzingis has a lengthy injury history, and plantar fasciitis is the kind of thing that can linger. The Celtics don’t open camp until Oct. 2 and can ease Porzingis in, but they have bet big on him being on the court for them this season. Boston needs him.

So does Latvia, but they will be without him.