Boston Celtics forward Kristaps Porzingis, sidelined since sustaining a serious leg injury in the NBA Finals last season, could potentially make his return in December. NBA insider Shams Charania shared the latest on The Pat McAfee Show, stating that the Celtics are optimistic but cautious.
“The Celtics are targeting December from what I’m told for Kristaps Porzingis and his return,” Charania reported, adding that the team remains focused on ensuring Porzingis meets specific health benchmarks before rejoining the lineup.
Porzingis, who underwent surgery in June to repair a torn medial retinaculum, is still working through Boston’s recovery program. Charania emphasized that although Porzingis recently participated in a warm-up, he “has not progressed to contact yet.”
The team is using specific metrics, evaluating areas such as his calf and leg strength to determine when he will be cleared. Charania explained, “Once he hits the metrics for his body… they’re essentially measuring parts of his body—whether it’s his calves, his legs, his knees… once his body and those muscle groups are balanced and he’s hit those thresholds, he will be cleared for return.”
Boston’s strong start to the season, currently sitting at 4-0, has allowed the Celtics flexibility in Porzingis’s rehabilitation. Charania noted, “If this wasn’t [a] Celtics team that has the best starting lineup… they don’t necessarily have to rush him back at all. If it ends up taking until January, it takes until January.” The Celtics, he explained, “have the luxury of being patient” with Porzingis’s timetable.
Boston acquired Porzingis in a three-team deal with the Washington Wizards and Memphis Grizzlies in 2023. The Latvian star made an immediate impact by scoring a record-breaking 30 points in his Celtics debut, becoming a valuable asset in their push for an NBA-record 18th championship.
After averaging 20.1 points and 7.2 rebounds per game last season, Porzingis’s presence could significantly bolster the Celtics’ depth and provide further offensive options. His return, however, remains contingent on meeting all health requirements. Charania explained that Boston has mapped out “a program for him,” and that Porzingis’s progress is measured at each step to ensure his body is fully prepared.
