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Kristaps Porzingis believes testing out new shoes this summer is responsible for the plantar fasciitis he was dealing with in his right foot.

"Was" is a critical aspect of that sentence, with the seven-foot-three center expressing he's now "perfectly fine" and 100 percent ready for the start of Celtics training camp on Tuesday.

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Tuesday also marks nearly seven weeks from when the former All-Star began engaging in a four-to-six-week rehab program to get to where he is now.

But that undertaking required Porzingis to sit out as the Latvian Men's National Basketball Team participated in the FIBA World Cup for the first time.

"It really hurt my soul," he expressed at Celtics' media day. "But I knew it was the right decision. I'm glad I made that decision in that moment."

As painful as it was, Porzingis was willing to make that sacrifice in pursuit of Banner 18. And with Boston's roster primarily consisting of players at some stage of their prime, a description that, based on performance, might even still apply to 37-year-old Al Horford, he expects his teammates to prioritize the Celtics' championship chase over individual success.

"I think also what we have to keep in mind (is) the ages that we are in...We're gonna put our stuff to the side. It's not what we're here for...Most important for me is we find our rhythm as a group and (that) we work towards what we are brought here to do."

Further Reading

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Brad Stevens Discusses Differences in Joe Mazzulla Entering Year 2 as Celtics' Head Coach

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Why Celtics Should Enter 2023-24 Season Optimistic About Most Important Area of Improvement