Meet Latvia’s First NBA Champ Celtics Kristaps Porzingas

Congrats to Kristaps Porzingas, the first player from Latvia to win an NBA Championship! What's that? You don't know much about the little country of Latvia? Well we should take a not so deep dive into this little thought or known about place to honor their national hero Mr. Kristaps Porzingas!

First let's learn a bit more about the Celtics 7ft 2in baller nicknamed "The Unicorn." He is called that for very good reason, his athleticism is off the charts for his height. He's not just some big man that makes his money in the "paint", he can shoot 3's from all over and is a very good ball handler and tremendous shot blocker.

Kristaps was born August 2, 1995 in a town called Liepaja, Latvia and was the 4th pick by the New York Knicks in 2015. He then moved onto the Dallas Mavericks, Washington Wizards and finally to the Celtics for the 2023-2024 season. This is his first NBA Finals Championship and he said after the game that he "loves Boston" so we can hope he is here for long time to come.

Latvia is very proud of him and one can imagine that a parade for the unicorn will be held in his honor when he returns home.

Here are some fun facts about Latvia from their official Travel Authority;

One of the last corners of Europe to join Christendom, Latvians are still very much pagans at heart. They worship nature by jumping over bonfires at Midsummer Eve, and many surnames are about birds, animals or trees.

Latvians are a people to look up to. Latvia has one of the world’s tallest women, with the average lady coming in at an impressive 170 cm. The men are no midgets either, holding fourth place.

With almost 500 km of coast, Latvia has tons of beaches. There’s space for everyone, whether you want fun in the sun or miles of sand to yourself, and best of all its all open to the public.

Chugging down 78 litres of beer per capita every year, Latvians love a cold brew on a summer’s evening. The country also boasts one of the world’s most northerly outdoor vineyards in the village of Sabile.

Next time you put on a pair of jeans, thank Latvian-born tailor Jacob Davis. In 1871 in Reno, Nevada, he invented denim as a tough material for trousers, then made a fortune in partnership with fabric merchant Levi Strauss.

Chugging down 78 litres of beer per capita every year, Latvians love a cold brew on a summer’s evening. The country also boasts one of the world’s most northerly outdoor vineyards in the village of Sabile.

So, there you have it. 6 Fun Facts about little known Latvia. It looks like a magical place with a lot going on year round. They are extremely proud of their native son, Kristaps, and so are we!