The Boston Celtics team bus accidentally left Kristaps Porzingis in New York, per sources…
In an unexpected and somewhat comical twist following their Friday night matchup against the New York Knicks, the Boston Celtics found themselves in the spotlight for something other than their on-court performance. According to multiple sources close to the team, the Celtics’ team bus accidentally departed Madison Square Garden without star center Kristaps Porzingis on board.
The incident reportedly occurred late Friday night after the Celtics secured a hard-fought 108–102 victory over the Knicks. As players and staff gathered their belongings and boarded the team bus for the return trip to their Manhattan hotel, Porzingis—who played 29 minutes and scored 17 points—was momentarily delayed while conducting postgame interviews and attending to media obligations.
By the time Porzingis wrapped up his responsibilities in the locker room, the bus had already departed from the loading zone outside the Garden.
Confusion and Quick Turnaround
Sources say that it wasn’t immediately apparent to team personnel that Porzingis was missing. It wasn’t until assistant coach Sam Cassell reportedly asked, “Where’s KP?” during the ride that a quick headcount was done—prompting a flurry of phone calls and an urgent U-turn back to the arena.
Porzingis, 7-foot-3 and hard to miss under most circumstances, was said to be in good spirits despite the mix-up. He waited patiently outside the players’ entrance, chatting with security staff and posing for photos with surprised fans who had lingered around the area.
“I thought it was a prank at first,” one fan said. “He was just standing there like he was waiting for an Uber.”
A Lighthearted Moment Amid Playoff Tension
Though the situation could have caused tension or embarrassment, team sources say the Celtics took the mishap in stride. Head coach Joe Mazzulla reportedly cracked a few jokes at Porzingis’ expense when the bus returned, joking that “maybe he wanted to get traded back to the Knicks.”
Porzingis himself laughed off the situation. “I guess they forgot how tall I am. Not easy to miss me,” he told reporters afterward. “It’s all good. We won the game, and I got a few extra minutes of fresh air.”
Teammates chimed in on social media shortly after news of the incident went viral. Jayson Tatum posted a picture of an empty seat on the bus with the caption, “KP where you at??” Meanwhile, Jaylen Brown tweeted, “KP took the ‘walk to remember’ route.”
Even the Celtics’ official account got in on the fun, tweeting: “Note to self: always count the 7-footers twice.”
Not the First NBA Travel Snafu
Incidents like this aren’t entirely unprecedented in the NBA, where busy schedules, chaotic postgame logistics, and large traveling parties occasionally result in minor mishaps. In 2019, then-Warriors player Klay Thompson was famously left behind at a team hotel in Los Angeles. In another instance, the Miami Heat once left backup center Dewayne Dedmon at a restaurant during a road trip.
“These things happen,” said a league official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. “Especially with players doing media, treatment, or family time after games—it’s not unusual for a guy to get separated from the group. What matters is how quickly it gets resolved and how the team reacts.”
Celtics Continue Strong Run
The Celtics, currently leading the Eastern Conference standings, have been on a dominant stretch during the second half of the season. Porzingis, acquired by Boston in a major offseason trade with the Washington Wizards, has been instrumental in anchoring their defense and providing key scoring in the paint.
Despite dealing with minor injuries earlier in the year, Porzingis has integrated well with the Celtics’ core of Tatum, Brown, and Derrick White. Friday’s win over the Knicks improved Boston’s road record and kept them atop the playoff race as they eye another deep postseason run.
“We’ve got bigger things to worry about than who got left behind for 10 minutes,” Coach Mazzulla said with a grin. “But yeah—we’ll start doing a roll call now.”
A Reminder of the Human Side of the Game
While the incident provided a moment of levity for fans and media alike, it also served as a humorous reminder that even at the highest levels of professional sports, things don’t always go according to plan.
Porzingis, for his part, doesn’t appear to be holding a grudge. “Next time, I’ll just get my own limo,” he joked. “Or maybe I’ll start riding with the fans.”