Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis is diligently working towards a return to the court following his ankle surgery in June. The 29-year-old Latvian, who endured the procedure to repair a torn medial retinaculum, remains optimistic about coming back sooner than originally projected. Despite an initial timeline of five to six months on the sidelines, Porzingis is now eyeing a potential return in December.
Accelerated Recovery Process
Porzingis has been proactive in his rehabilitation, taking significant strides over the weekend by 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," he shared.
With the Celtics' medical staff, led by team president Brad Stevens, emphasizing caution, Porzingis has had to balance his eagerness with prudence. "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," Porzingis elaborated.
Supportive Teammates and Staff
The return of Porzingis is crucial for the Celtics, given his significant contributions last season even while playing through multiple injuries. In the NBA Finals, he managed to return to play 16 minutes in Game 5 despite his ankle issues, showcasing his resilience and commitment. Before his surgery, he was also pivotal in Game 1 despite recovering from a calf injury.
Veteran Al Horford is expected to start at center at the beginning of the season, with backups Luke Kornet and Xavier Tillman providing support during Porzingis' recovery. The Celtics' coaching staff and teammates are undoubtedly keen to have him back, but they understand the importance of his full recovery. Brad Stevens commented, "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."
Expectations and Optimism
Porzingis himself remains positive and hopeful about his return. "The expectation is sometime in December, but I'm feeling really good and I'm working towards hopefully playing earlier than that," he remarked. His optimistic outlook and diligent work ethic have been evident throughout his rehabilitation process, reassuring both the team's management and fans.
As the Celtics prepare for the upcoming season, the return of a healthy Porzingis would undoubtedly boost their championship aspirations. Until then, the team will rely on its depth and experience to navigate the early stages of the season, hopeful that their star center will be back on the hardwood sooner rather than later.