Boston Celtics' Kristaps Porzingis To Miss Start Of Season After Ankle Surgery

The Boston Celtics will start their NBA championship defence without Kristaps Porzingis. The standout centre had surgery on his left ankle, which kept him out for much of the Celtics' Finals run. The team announced this on Thursday.

Porzingis is expected to need five to six months to recover, possibly delaying his season debut until December. The surgery was to repair a torn retinaculum and dislocated posterior tibialis tendon in his left ankle. He sustained this injury during Boston's win over the Dallas Mavericks in Game 2 of the Finals on June 9.

He missed Games 3 and 4 but returned for a limited role in the Celtics' title-clinching victory in Game 5. Before that, he had already missed ten playoff games due to a strained right calf but came back for Game 1 of the Finals.

Porzingis will also miss next month's qualifying tournament for the Summer Olympics in Paris, where he was set to compete for Latvia. Acquired from the Washington Wizards last June as part of a three-team trade, Porzingis played a significant role in Boston's successful season.

The trade sent former NBA Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart from Boston to the Memphis Grizzlies. Porzingis helped the Celtics achieve the league's best regular-season record at 64-18 and win their first championship since 2008.

Porzingis' Performance and Contract

The 7-foot-2 centre ranked third among Boston players in scoring with an average of 20.1 points per game. He shot 37.5 per cent from three-point range and averaged 7.2 rebounds in 57 games. During this postseason, he was limited to seven games, averaging 12.3 points and 4.4 rebounds.

Porzingis, an All-Star with the New York Knicks in the 2017-18 season, is under contract for one more year after signing a two-year, $60 million extension following last summer's trade.

Team Adjustments

With Porzingis sidelined, veteran Al Horford will likely take on a starting role next season. The 38-year-old Horford averaged 9.5 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 2.3 assists while starting Boston's final 15 postseason games. He recently confirmed his intention to return for an 18th NBA season.

#NEBHInjuryReport Kristaps Porzingis underwent successful surgery to repair a torn retinaculum and dislocated posterior tibialis tendon. Porzingis is expected to return to play in five to six months. Further updates will be provided as necessary.
Boston Celtics (@celtics) June 27, 2024

The Celtics will have to navigate the early part of their season without one of their key players but remain hopeful for his return later in the year.