The Boston Celtics lost a whole lot of experience, leadership and good vibes this offseason when they parted ways with Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis, Al Horford and Luke Kornet.
But how much did they really lose in on-court production?
It’s a fair question to ask, considering Boston hasn’t missed a beat in their absences. Even with superstar Jayson Tatum sidelined, the Celtics have the second-best record in the Eastern Conference (24-13) and boast the best offensive rating (122.6) in the NBA.
We’ve written plenty about how Boston has been able to thrive with its new-look roster. But with the first “reunion game” for that departed quartet set for Saturday night — when Kornet’s San Antonio Spurs visit TD Garden — it’s time for another check-in on these four former Celtics.
Luke Kornet, Spurs
- 2025-26 stats: 29 games, 8.4 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.4 blocks, 66.2 percent FG
- First game back in Boston: Saturday, Jan. 10 at 8 p.m. ET (NBC Sports Boston)
What if we told you that, among this group, Kornet has made the biggest impact on his new team?
You might not be too surprised, given how much the versatile big man affected winning in Boston. But Kornet is certainly living up to the four-year, $41 million contract he received from San Antonio.
After missing seven games early in the season due to an ankle injury, Kornet has become a frontcourt stalwart for the Spurs, starting 21 of 29 games while Victor Wembanyama missed time due to injury. Kornet has already racked up three double-doubles and has scored 10 or more points in 10 games, including a 23-point, five-block outburst against Portland last week.
Kornet is on pace for career highs across the board while playing 24.9 minutes per game, and his ability to hold down the frontcourt while the Spurs manage Wembanyama’s minutes is a big reason why San Antonio has the second-best record in the Western Conference (26-11).
Jrue Holiday, Blazers
- 2025-26 stats: 12 games, 16.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 8.3 assists, 1.6 steals, 44.6 percent FG, 36.5 percent 3PT
- First game back in Boston: Monday, Jan. 26 at 8 p.m. ET (NBC Sports Boston)
Holiday got off to a hot start in Portland, logging more than 33 minutes per night as the Blazers’ starting point guard while ranking among the NBA’s assist leaders. He suffered a calf injury on Nov. 14, however, and hasn’t played since.
While Holiday could return soon (he was upgraded to doubtful for Portland’s next game), it’s possible the 35-year-old transitions to a smaller role, as Deni Advija is putting up career numbers as the Blazers’ primary ball-handler.
Portland (18-20) is actually still in the playoff picture as the No. 9 seed in the West, but whether it maintains that pace — and whether Holiday can stay on the court when he returns — remains to be seen.
Kristaps Porzingis, Hawks
- 2025-26 stats: 17 games, 17.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.3 blocks, 45.7 percent FG, 36.0 percent 3PT
- First game back in Boston: Wednesday, Jan. 28 at 7:30 p.m. ET (NBC Sports Boston
Porzingis has had a rough go of it so far in Atlanta.
Earlier this season, it was revealed that the “mystery illness” Porzingis dealt with in Boston was postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, or POTS, an autonomic condition that can “dramatically increase a patient’s heart rate when standing up instead of spread horizontal,” per The Athletic.
Porzingis’ condition has limited him to 17 games this season, and he missed 14 of 15 games from late November to late December. The 7-foot-2 big man has played in four of Atlanta’s last five games but hasn’t played more than 22 minutes in any of those contests as the Hawks try to manage his minutes.
Porzingis is on an expiring contract making $30.7 million this season, so if Atlanta is looking to shed more salary after dealing Trae Young, he’d be a potential trade candidate.
Al Horford, Warriors
- 2025-26 stats: 20 games, 6.9 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.0 blocks, 38.7 percent FG, 35.2 percent 3PT
- First game back in Boston: Wednesday, March 18 at 7 p.m. ET (NBC Sports Boston)
Remember when Horford said he chose Golden State over Boston in part because he wanted a better chance at a title? That hasn’t aged particularly well: Horford’s Warriors are 8th in the West at 20-18, while the Celtics own the East’s No. 3 seed at 23-13 entering Friday’s games.
As is the case with Holiday and Porzingis, Horford has missed a decent amount of time, including 11 games in a 12-game stretch last month. Since returning to action on Christmas Day, however, the 39-year-old has been fairly effective, averaging 9.1 points over a seven -game span while making 45.2 percent of his 3-pointers.
The Warriors have been linked to a few big men (most notably Anthony Davis) on the trade market, but if Horford gives them decent enough production between now and the Feb. 5 NBA trade deadline, perhaps they’d be convinced to stand pat.
