Porzingis Eyes December Return Following Ankle Surgery
Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis is making promising strides in his recovery from ankle surgery performed in late June. The 29-year-old Latvian has been diligent in his rehabilitation efforts, hoping to return to the court as early as December.
Originally estimated to be out for five to six months, Porzingis has focused on accelerating his recovery process. Over the weekend, he took significant steps forward, running and participating in light contact drills, including one-on-one play. "I think I've started the next stage now as I got here. Started running, had some light contact stuff. Played some, like, 1-on-1. I felt really good. I felt really good and the most important is I felt really good the next day, too. So yeah, looking forward to ramping up even more," said Porzingis, reflecting his optimism.
The Celtics' medical staff, led by team president Brad Stevens, has emphasized caution due to the unique nature of his injury. "Kristaps obviously had the surgery that was well documented after the year and seems to be recovering well. He's very optimistic. I don't know that we're interested in putting a timeline on him because the injury is unique. But as far as how he feels and the progress that he's made, I'd say we're very, very pleased with where he is and maybe a little surprised," Stevens commented.
Porzingis had been dealing with ankle issues since the NBA Finals last season. In Game 2, he sustained a tear in his medial retinaculum. Despite the injury, he returned to play 16 minutes in Game 5, showcasing his resilience. Before his surgery, Porzingis also played pivotal minutes in Game 1 of the NBA Finals while managing a calf injury.
Veteran Al Horford is expected to start at center for the Celtics at the beginning of the season, with backups Luke Kornet and Xavier Tillman providing support during Porzingis' recovery. "The expectation is sometime in December, but I'm feeling really good and I'm working towards hopefully playing earlier than that," Porzingis noted, optimistic about his early return.
Porzingis' determination has been evident throughout his rehabilitation journey. He expressed his eagerness to return sooner than anticipated but acknowledged the importance of patience and following medical advice. "Obviously the energy I'm feeling from the doctor, the surgeon, the medical staff is not to rush anything. But for myself, obviously, if you ask me and I had to do my own protocol, I would probably go quicker. But that's a good sign. I'm feeling really good. My ankle's feeling really, really good," he mentioned.
Brad Stevens and the Celtics organization are taking a cautious approach to ensure Porzingis' long-term health and effectiveness on the court. While no specific timeline has been set, the progress is encouraging. "Doing a good amount of stuff" has been his mantra, and he remains "optimistic as always" about his path back to the court.
As the season progresses, the Celtics and their fans will be eagerly watching Porzingis' recovery, hoping to see him in action soon. His return could be a significant boost for the team as they navigate the challenges of the NBA season.