Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis is expected to return from offseason ankle surgery in Monday’s matchup against the visiting Los Angeles Clippers, ESPN reported Monday.
The original timetable for his return from his surgery in late June was five to six months. The torn medial retinaculum injury, considered “rare,” occurred during the NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks, which the Celtics won in five games.
In recent weeks, Porzingis, 29, has participated in scrimmages during practices with the Celtics and their NBA G League affiliate in Maine.
Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla praised Porzingis’ rehab and his efforts during practice in Maine.
“He got through good, and came out OK, so he’s just continuing to wrap it up and is getting better and better,” Mazzulla told reporters Thursday. “All I know is he’s getting better every day. He’s working really hard at coming back as fast as he can, and he’s in the next phase of ramping.”
Comments from Porzingis and general manager Brad Stevens in recent months also indicated that the Latvian native’s rehab was going very well.
“The expectation is sometime in December,” he told ESPN in late September. “But I’m feeling really good and I’m working towards hopefully playing earlier than that.”
Stevens expressed optimism at Boston’s media day in late September, saying, “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.”
The 7-foot-2 Porzingis averaged 20.1 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.9 blocks in 57 games (all starts) in his first season with Boston in 2023-24.
Porzingis has career averages of 19.7 points, 7.9 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.8 blocks in 459 games (458 starts) with the New York Knicks (2015-18), Mavericks (2019-22), Washington Wizards (2022-23) and Celtics.
Porzingis was an All-Star in 2017-18 with the Knicks, who drafted him with the No. 4 overall pick in 2015. Derailed by injuries, he missed the entire 2018-19 season with a torn ACL and has played fewer than 60 games in five of his last six campaigns.
