Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis is optimistic about his recovery following ankle surgery in late June. The 29-year-old Latvian big man has been diligently working to accelerate his return to the court. Initially projected to be sidelined for five to six months, Porzingis is now eyeing a return as early as December.
Progress in Recovery
Over the weekend, Porzingis reached significant milestones in his rehabilitation. He has now started running and engaging in light contact drills, including one-on-one play. Sharing his optimism, Porzingis stated, "The expectation is sometime in December, but I'm feeling really good and I'm working towards hopefully playing earlier than that."
His progress has also been noticed by Celtics' team president Brad Stevens, who remarked, "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."
Rehabilitation Journey
Porzingis' meticulous approach to his rehabilitation reflects a strong commitment to getting back on the court. "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 enthusiastically.
However, the Celtics' medical staff, led by team president Brad Stevens, has emphasized the need for caution due to the unique nature of his injury. "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," noted Porzingis.
Last Season's Struggles
It is worth remembering the challenges Porzingis faced last season. He played through an ankle injury sustained in Game 2 of the NBA Finals, resulting in a torn medial retinaculum. Despite this, Porzingis played a crucial 16 minutes in Game 5 of the Finals. Before his surgery, he still managed to play pivotal minutes in Game 1 despite coming off a calf injury.
Team Dynamics
As Porzingis continues his recovery, veteran Al Horford is expected to start at center at the beginning of the season. Additionally, the Celtics will rely on backups Luke Kornet and Xavier Tillman to provide support during Porzingis' absence. Stevens expressed satisfaction with the team's preparedness and Porzingis' progress, while refraining from setting a concrete timeline for his return, ensuring that no undue pressure is placed on the recovering star.
For now, Porzingis remains focused on his rehabilitation. "Doing a good amount of stuff" has been his mantra, and he remains "optimistic as always" about his path back to the court. Celtics fans will undoubtedly be eagerly watching his progress, hoping to see the towering Latvian back in action sooner rather than later.