Dolan: Porzingis could possibly miss next season with ACL injury

An optimistic timetable for Kristaps Porzingis' return to action following successful surgery to repair a torn ACL in his left knee would see him back on the hardwood around Christmas.

New York Knicks owner James Dolan, however, isn't ruling out the possibility that his franchise player could be sidelined for the entire 2018-19 campaign.

"I’ve been told everything from December to him being out for the season, so I don’t know what to expect on that," Dolan told the New York Post's Larry Brooks. "But we can’t just sit on our ass while he’s away. We need to develop a team and then integrate him into it when he comes back."

Porzingis suffered the injury Feb. 6 while coming down off a right-handed jam over Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo. His knee buckled after landing awkwardly on his left leg, and the Knicks' training staff carried him back to the locker room.

The 22-year-old suited up for 48 games prior to his injury for the 29-53 Knicks, averaging 22.7 points on 43.9 percent shooting, along with 6.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 2.4 rejections in 32.4 minutes.