Kristaps Porzingis Eyes Early Return After Ankle Surgery
Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis is on the mend and holds a positive outlook on his return to the court, following his ankle surgery in late June. The 29-year-old Latvian big man has been working diligently to expedite his recovery, initially projected to keep him off the court for five to six months.
Porzingis' rehabilitation journey has included significant milestones over the past weekend, where he began running and participating in light contact drills, including one-on-one play. "The expectation is sometime in December, but I'm feeling really good and I'm working towards hopefully playing earlier than that," Porzingis shared.
Managed by a cautious and meticulous Celtics' staff led by team president Brad Stevens, the emphasis on careful recovery has been paramount. "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 noted.
Porzingis played through an ankle injury last season, sustaining a tear in his medial retinaculum during Game 2 of the NBA Finals. Showing remarkable resilience, he returned to play 16 minutes in Game 5 despite his injury. Before his surgery, he even managed to contribute pivotal minutes in Game 1 despite dealing with a calf injury.
During Porzingis’ recovery phase, veteran Al Horford is expected to start at center at the beginning of the season, while backups Luke Kornet and Xavier Tillman are slated to provide support. This strategic move allows Porzingis the necessary time to fully recuperate without the pressure of an accelerated return.
Reflecting on his progress, Porzingis stated, "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."
Despite the encouragement from his medical team to avoid hastening his return, Porzingis remains driven. "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 emphasized.
As the Celtics navigate the early part of the season without their star center, the organization and fans alike are buoyed by Porzingis' progress and optimism. His determination to return stronger and sooner than anticipated speaks volumes about his commitment and resilience. "Doing a good amount of stuff" has been his mantra, and he remains "optimistic as always" about his path back to the court.
For the Celtics, having a fully recovered Porzingis could be a game-changer as they aim to build on their recent successes and push deeper into the postseason. In the meantime, the diligent work of the medical staff and the strategic gameplay adjustments will be crucial in maintaining the team's competitive edge till their big man makes his much-anticipated return.