Boston Celtics Center Kristaps Porzingis Optimistic for Early Return Post-Surgery
Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis is signaling optimism about his recovery following ankle surgery in late June. The 29-year-old Latvian big man has been diligently working to expedite his comeback from an injury that was projected to sideline him for five to six months.
Porzingis targeting a return as early as December adds a ray of hope for the Celtics. "The expectation is sometime in December, but I'm feeling really good and I'm working towards hopefully playing earlier than that," Porzingis remarked.
Over the past weekend, Porzingis made significant strides in his rehabilitation process, running and engaging 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.
Porzingis’ progression comes with a backdrop of caution from the Celtics' staff, led by team president Brad Stevens. "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 stated.
The team's medical staff has been prioritizing a careful approach, underscoring the importance of not rushing his return. "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 said.
Porzingis' injury history this past year is a testament to his resilience. Last season, he played through an ankle injury sustained in Game 2 of the NBA Finals, tearing his medial retinaculum. Remarkably, he returned to play 16 minutes in Game 5 despite the injury. Furthermore, before his surgery, Porzingis also played crucial minutes in Game 1 of the NBA Finals while dealing with a calf injury.
As the Celtics prepare for the upcoming season, veteran Al Horford is expected to start at center. Backups Luke Kornet and Xavier Tillman will provide additional support during Porzingis' recovery period. This lineup adjustment aims to balance the team's performance and allow Porzingis ample time to recuperate fully.
While a concrete timeline for Porzingis' return remains undetermined, his "doing a good amount of stuff" mantra and continued optimism indicate a promising trajectory. His proactive approach in rehab, coupled with the evident progress, will be closely monitored as the season advances.
As Celtics fans eagerly await the return of their star center, the overarching sentiment is one of cautious optimism, driven by Porzingis' dedication and the team's careful management of his recovery.