Celtics' Kristaps Porzingis - 'No ill will' toward Mavericks, Luka Doncic - ESPN

BOSTON — Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis, who was once expected to be the long-term co-star alongside Luka Doncic in Dallas, was adamant that there is «no ill will» about their tenure with the Mavericks not going as planned as he prepares to face his former team in the NBA Finals.

The Mavs made a blockbuster trade to acquire Porzingis from the New York Knicks in January 2019, midway through Doncic's rookie season — a deal Dallas will finally pay in full by sending New York the No. 24 pick in this year's draft.

Porzingis, who was recovering from a torn ACL when he was traded and plagued by injuries throughout his Dallas stint, averaged 20.0 points and 8.8 rebounds in 134 games for the Mavs. Dallas decided the duo wasn't a long-term fit and traded Porzingis to the Washington Wizards at the 2022 deadline.

«Not all of it was like not good,» Porzingis said of his time in Dallas, which included a pair of first-round playoff exits. «We had some good moments. We had some decent moments, but overall it just didn't work for both sides. It wasn't perfect. But I would say everything — teammates, locker room — I know at that time there were some rumors that there was something in the locker room. It was never like that. It was all just noise at the end.

»It just wasn't perfect for us playing together, and it didn't work out. And that's it. There's no ill will, I don't think from their side. For sure, [there is not] from my side. I don't think there should be. It just didn't work out, but I have nothing but love for Dallas and for my teammates and for everybody there."

Porzingis, an All-Star for the Knicks before he was injured, acknowledged during his time in Dallas that it was difficult for him to initially accept playing a