Porzingis gives positive update on his injury rehab for the Celtics Originally appeared in NBC Sports Boston
The Boston Celtics will not have Kristaps Porzingis as their starting center When they receive the New York Knicks and will raise their 2024 NBA Championship banner at TD Garden on Oct. 22.
But the 7-foot-10 big man may be back on the court before the calendar turns to 2025 as he recovers from a left ankle injury.
“The expectation is sometime in December,” Porzingis said. He told ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne“But I feel very good and I’m working to be able to play sooner.”
Porzingis too He gave an update on his rehabilitation during his Celtics Media Day press conference on Tuesday.
“I had surgery right after the parade. Then I was home for about three or four weeks, hanging out,” Porzingis said. “Then I was able to start doing more things in August and now, at the end of September, I’ve been doing quite a bit and I feel good. I’m looking forward to continuing to progress at this pace and hopefully being back with the guys as soon as possible.”
Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens wasn’t as eager to give a definitive timetable, but he seems pleased with the progress Porzingis is making toward returning to the court.
“(The injury) is unique enough that we’re not rushing it,” Stevens told Shelburne. “But I would say if we have a timeline in mind, we’re very, very encouraged by where he is right now.”
Porzingis played fantastic in his first season with the Celtics.
Porzingis averaged 20.1 points and 7.2 rebounds per game while shooting 37.5 percent from three-point range. He played in 56 regular-season games but missed 12 of the team’s 19 playoff games after suffering a leg injury in the first round against the Miami Heat. Porzingis returned in the NBA Finals and had a strong performance in the Game 1 victory. He suffered his current injury in Game 2 of the series, although He made an appearance in the title-clinching Game 5..
The Celtics can and should be patient with Porzigins. He seems very eager to return, which is understandable, but this process should not be rushed. While the Celtics had a lot of success without him last season, he is still a very important piece of this roster and makes the team much harder to beat when he is on the court.
Al Horford is more than capable of filling in at center while Porzingis is out. Luke Kornet and Xavier Tillman Sr. can also provide quality minutes at that position.
Continue Celtics Media Day Coverage from NBC Sports Boston All day Tuesday in the video player below: