Both Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis and team president Brad Stevens have expressed optimism about how the 29-year-old’s ankle is recovering from surgery. Porzingis had surgery in late June, following the Celtics’ championship run. At the time, the Celtics announced that he’d be out for five to six months. If he sticks to that timeline, he’ll return in late December or in January, but it sounds like Porzingis would prefer not to wait that long.
“The expectation is sometime in December,” Porzingis told ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne in a story published Tuesday. “But I’m feeling really good and I’m working towards hopefully playing earlier than that.”
At media day on Tuesday, Porzingis told reporters that he has been “doing a good amount of stuff” and is hoping to “be back out there with the guys as soon as possible.” He described himself as ”optimistic as always” about his recovery, as he was able to run and take some contact over the weekend.
“I think I’ve started the next stage now as I got here,” Porzingis said in a separate interview with NBC Sports Boston on Tuesday. “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.”
Porzingis told reporters that he’s “going to be more than 100% ready for each step” of his return-to-play protocol, which he admittedly would like to speed up.
“Obviously the energy I’m feeling from the doctor, surgeon, medical staff is not to rush anything,” he said. “But for myself obviously if you ask me and I had my own protocol probably go quicker but that’s a good sign.I’m feeling really good.My ankle’s feeling really,really good.”
Stevens told ESPN that Porzingis’ injury is unique enough that they won’t rush anything but they’re encouraged by where he is at this point.
Porzingis’ combination of rim protection deep shooting range and ability punish switches was an enormous boost for Boston last season.In Game 1 of NBA Finals returning from calf injury suffered Game 4 first round,Porzinigs played most important-and perhaps most impressive-minutes career drilling jumpers blocking shots soon checked off bench.He hurt his ankle Game2 though tearing medial retinaculum,rare injury required surgery.Before surgery though returned play16 minutes Game5 turned clincher.
With Porzinigs out,the Celtics will have luxury starting Al Horford at center beginning season.Boston will not solely relying on38-year-old however,it retained backups Luke Kornet Xavier Tillman offseason
