Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis is on the mend and optimistic about his return to the court following ankle surgery in late June. The 29-year-old Latvian big man, known for his diligent work ethic, has been working tirelessly to accelerate his recovery.
Originally expected to be sidelined for five to six months post-surgery, Porzingis is now eyeing a return as early as December. Over the weekend, he took significant strides in his rehabilitation by running and participating in light contact drills, including one-on-one play. Reflecting on his progress, Porzingis shared, "The expectation is sometime in December, but I'm feeling really good and I'm working towards hopefully playing earlier than that."
The Celtics' medical staff, led by team president Brad Stevens, has emphasized caution in managing Porzingis' recovery due to the unique nature of his injury. Despite his eagerness to return, Porzingis has recognized the importance of following the team's 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 conveyed.
Porzingis has a history of playing through pain, as evidenced by last season when he played through an ankle injury sustained in Game 2 of the NBA Finals, tearing his medial retinaculum. Despite the injury, he heroically returned to play 16 minutes in Game 5 of the NBA Finals. Even before his surgery, Porzingis played pivotal minutes in Game 1 of the NBA Finals despite coming off a calf injury.
While Porzingis focuses on his recovery, veteran Al Horford is expected to start at center at the beginning of the season. Backups Luke Kornet and Xavier Tillman will provide the necessary support during Porzingis' time on the mend. Stevens expressed satisfaction with the progress Porzingis has made but has refrained from setting a concrete timeline for his return. "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 remarked.
Porzingis himself remains optimistic and focused on his path back to the court. "Doing a good amount of stuff" has been his mantra, and he holds a positive outlook on his recovery journey. "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," Porzingis noted.
The Celtics organization and fans alike are hopeful for Porzingis' smooth and swift recovery. His return to form would not only bolster the team's roster but also provide a significant boost to their championship aspirations. For now, the focus remains on ensuring his health and readiness to contribute at the highest level once he steps back on the court.