As the Boston Celtics continue their decimation of the NBA, a good injury update rolled in on Tuesday concerning Kristaps Porzingis. The All-Star power forward/center has not played this season due to rehab from foot surgery. The Celtics have played exceptionally thus far without him. According to Shams Charania, a return could happen sooner than expected.
Injured Celtics Star Receives Positive Injury Update
Good News, But No Need to Rush
According to the ESPN Senior NBA Insider, Charania reports the chances that Porzingis could return earlier than initially projected are high. However, Charania stated on the Pat McAfee Show that Boston sees no immediate reason to rush him back.
“The Celtics are targetting December, from that I’m told, for Kristaps Porzingis and his return,” Charania said. “And there was video I was seeing last night of him warming up before the game. He has not progressed to contact yet, but, if you’re watching this video, you’re probably licking your chops, you’re getting ready for Kristaps Porzingis to be back in the lineup. He looks really, really good.”
Charania continued to explain why Boston would refrain from rushing Porzingis back.
“I think, if this wasn’t a Celtics team that has the best starting lineup, to me, in the NBA, they’ve got the number one starting five in the league, for sure. If they didn’t have the luxury of being where they are at now, maybe you’re a little bit more pressed to bring KP back, but they have the luxury of having to be patient. They can wait.”
This outcome is good for both Porzingis and the Celtics. Judging by the way they’re playing right now and assuming they continue on this trajectory, Boston doesn’t necessarily need to rush him back, as Shams stated. Boston’s depth is solid, and they are unquestionably still the best team in the league, with no signs of relinquishing their current hold on the NBA. Of course, having their big man back will only further their dominance, but it would be wise to ease Porzingis back into the fold instead of the alternative. In the meantime, Boston can focus on winning game after game after game.
In Porzingis’s case, not rushing back should help him as well. The organization doesn’t need a re-aggravation of the same injury or something else entirely to occur, and neither does he. Rushing back too soon in full throttle increases the risk of something happening soon after his return. The Celtics will also likely consider a minutes restriction.
Porzingis’s Injury Goes Back to the 2024 NBA Finals
Porzingis’s injury stems back to the playoffs last season in Game 2 of the finals. The injury in question was a torn retinaculum and dislocated posterior tibialis tendon. Porzingis did not return in the finals, but the Celtics were victorious over the Dallas Mavericks in five games. Since then, he has been in recovery mode from the injury. He was hoping to play for Latvia in the Paris Summer Olympics but that didn’t pan out as the surgery was necessary and of higher priority.
Regardless of the exact return date, Porzingis is feeling good and is on track with his rehab. I’m sure he’s just itching to get back on the floor to help his teammates repeat as champions.
