Kristaps Porzingis Optimistic About Return Following Ankle Surgery
Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis is making strides in his recovery from ankle surgery, with an optimistic outlook for an early return. The 29-year-old Latvian big man underwent a procedure in late June and has been diligently working toward accelerating his rehabilitation.
Porzingis was projected to be out for five to six months post-surgery, initially targeting a return in December. However, his recent progress has fueled hopes for an earlier comeback. Over the weekend, Porzingis took notable steps forward by running and engaging in light contact drills, including one-on-one play.
"The expectation is sometime in December, but I'm feeling really good and I'm working towards hopefully playing earlier than that," Porzingis shared, reflecting his unwavering determination.
While Porzingis is pushing forward, the Celtics' medical staff, under the guidance of team president Brad Stevens, is emphasizing caution due to the unique nature of his injury. Last season, Porzingis battled through an ankle injury sustained in Game 2 of the NBA Finals, tearing his medial retinaculum. Despite his condition, he made a courageous return to play 16 minutes in Game 5.
Stevens praised Porzingis' progress, noting, "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."
In the interim, the Celtics are leaning on veteran Al Horford to start at center as the season begins. Backups Luke Kornet and Xavier Tillman are expected to provide support during Porzingis' recovery period.
Porzingis highlighted his recent progress, saying, "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."
The Latvian center's persistence is apparent, but he remains mindful of the advice from his medical team. "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' return strategy underscores a disciplined yet hopeful approach, as both player and team navigate his unique injury. With his progress closely monitored, the Celtics are cautiously optimistic about his anticipated return to the court.
Porzingis' commitment to his rehabilitation is evident, encapsulated in his mantra of "doing a good amount of stuff" and remaining "optimistic as always" about his path back to basketball. As the Celtics await his return, the focus remains on ensuring his health and readiness for a long-term impact on the team’s success.