Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis is steadily recovering from ankle surgery and is optimistic about his return to the court, which could be as soon as December. The 29-year-old Latvian big man underwent surgery in late June and has been working diligently to accelerate his recovery process.
Porzingis, expected to be sidelined for five to six months post-surgery, is making significant strides in his rehabilitation. Over the weekend, he participated in running and engaged in light contact drills, including one-on-one play. His efforts mark a pivotal step forward in his comeback journey.
"The expectation is sometime in December, but I'm feeling really good and I'm working towards hopefully playing earlier than that," said Porzingis. The positive momentum in his rehab has him and the Celtics’ staff encouraged but cautiously optimistic.
Rehabilitation Progress
Porzingis’ rehabilitation has been closely monitored by the Celtics’ medical team, led by team president Brad Stevens, who has emphasized a cautious approach due to the unique nature of the 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.
Throughout last season, Porzingis demonstrated remarkable resilience by playing through an ankle injury sustained in Game 2 of the NBA Finals, tearing his medial retinaculum. Despite the injury, he returned to play 16 minutes in Game 5 and had already been dealing with a calf injury during pivotal moments in Game 1 of the Finals.
Now, in the latest phase of his recovery, Porzingis said, "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."
Team Strategies
As Porzingis works his way back, veteran Al Horford is expected to start at center at the beginning of the season. The Celtics will also rely on backups Luke Kornet and Xavier Tillman to fill in during Porzingis’ recovery period. This strategic depth gives Boston a safety net, ensuring they remain competitive while awaiting Porzingis’ return.
The Celtics’ staff has been communicating clearly with Porzingis about the importance of not rushing the recovery process. Echoing this sentiment, Porzingis noted the cautionary advice from his doctors and medical staff, "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."
Conclusion
Porzingis remains steadfast and optimistic about his path back to the court, highlighting, "Doing a good amount of stuff" as his mantra throughout his rehab process. The Celtics’ management reflects a similar optimism, encouraged by the strides he’s made so far.
While no concrete timeline has been set for his return, Porzingis and the Celtics organization are clearly dedicated to ensuring that when he steps back onto the court, he will do so at full strength, ready to contribute significantly to their campaign.