In Game 2 of this year’s NBA Finals, Boston Celtics big man Kristaps Porzingis suffered a rare leg injury. This injury kept him out for Games 3 and 4 of the series. Although he was limited, Porzingis played through the injury in the series-clinching Game 5. However, it became clear immediately he was going to need surgery, which he underwent late in June. Last month, Celtics GM Brad Stevens said it would “be a while” before Porzingis returns to an NBA court, but he did not provide a concrete timetable.
“He’s starting to do more and more and more,” Stevens said of Porzingis, who recently posted an online photo of himself during a workout. “He was in a boot for a while there, but every indication is he’s progressing well and he’s on the right timeline. But it’s going to be a while.”
However, in a recent interview with ESPN, Porzingis shed more light on when he expects to return to the court.
“The expectation is sometime in December,” Porzingis told ESPN. “But I’m feeling really good and I’m working towards hopefully playing earlier than that.”
With the regular season kicking off on October 22, Porzingis will likely miss close to two months of the campaign.
In his first season in Boston, the Latvian native provided a huge boost to the team in every aspect. On the year, he averaged 20.1 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1.9 blocks per game.
Kristaps Porzingis Reveals When He Expects to Return From Injury
How the Boston Celtics Will Make Up for Porzingis’ Absence
Losing Porzingis for an extended period of time is a big blow for the Celtics. However, Boston is well-equipped to replace him while he is out. Most notably, Al Horford is officially returning for his 18th season and is likely going to be the team’s starting center while Porzingis is out. Additionally, the Celtics have some solid depth behind him. This offseason, the Celtics re-signed big men Luke Kornet, Xavier Tillman, and Neemias Queta. All three centers will likely assume a relatively large role next season.
The Last Word
With or without Porzingis, the Celtics are still the team to beat in the NBA. They are the reigning NBA champions and brought back nearly the exact same team from last season. There may be more competition for them this time around, especially from teams like the New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers. However, the Celtics are one of the most well-rounded teams in the NBA and are elite at every level. They may face some struggles while Porzingis recovers from his injury. However, the Celtics are still legitimate title contenders and have a good chance to repeat as champions, something that has not happened since the Golden State Warriors did it in 2018.
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