The 2024 NBA Postseason was challenging for Boston Celtics big man Kristaps Porzingis. In the first round against the Miami Heat, he sustained a calf injury that kept him out for about five weeks.
Porzingis managed to return in the NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks but suffered another injury, this time a rare ankle injury, causing him to miss Games 3 and 4. He played limited minutes in the title-clinching Game 5.
The latest update on his status is a significant setback for the Celtics. According to Tim Bontemps of ESPN, Porzingis underwent ankle surgery that will sideline him for 5 to 6 months.
The Celtics say Kristaps Porzingis had surgery to repair a torn retinaculum and dislocated posterior tibialis tendon, and that he will return to play in “5-to-6 months” — meaning he’ll be out well into the start of next season.
— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) June 27, 2024
This timeline means Porzingis won’t be back on the court until at least after Thanksgiving. Given his history of injuries, it wouldn’t be surprising if his return is delayed until 2025.
“I don’t care,” Porzingis told ESPN on the night of Game 5, acknowledging the long recovery. “I will fix it. This is the most important, and after my injury healing, and all that, it’s totally worth it.”
Porzingis proved to be a valuable addition to the Celtics. With him and Jrue Holiday joining the team via trades last offseason, they became the most dominant team in the NBA.
Boston faced little resistance during the regular season and steamrolled through the Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers, Indiana Pacers, and Mavericks in the postseason.
Key players like Jimmy Butler, Jaimie Jaquez Jr., Jarrett Allen, Donovan Mitchell, Tyrese Haliburton, and Benedict Mathurin missed games against the Celtics. Despite this, Boston’s high level of play made it hard to imagine them losing any seven-game series.
In his first season with the Celtics, Porzingis averaged 20.1 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game. He served as an elite third option behind Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown and was a formidable defensive presence.
The Celtics will patiently await his return next season, understanding that having him healthy in April is more important than rushing him back in November or December.
