Porzingis out 5-6 months after leg surgery
Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis will miss five to six months after undergoing surgery to repair a torn retinaculum and dislocated posterior tibialis tendon, the team announced Thursday.
The 7-foot-2 Latvian had already been ruled out of the Olympic qualifying tournament in July but will now also miss the beginning of the 2024-25 NBA season.
Porzingis suffered the injury in Game 2 of the NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks. He didn't play in Games 3 and 4 of the Finals but returned off the bench for Game 5, recording five points and two rebounds in Boston's championship-winning contest.
Porzingis also missed 10 postseason games with a calf injury.
Celtics big men Luke Kornet and Xavier Tillman became unrestricted free agents this summer.
Porzingis had one of his best statistical seasons in his first campaign in Boston, averaging 20.1 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks in 57 games in 2023-24. He also acted as a defensive anchor for the Celtics to help propel them to a 64-18 regular-season record.
Boston acquired Porzingis from the Washington Wizards during the 2023 offseason as part of a three-team trade that sent longtime Celtic guard Marcus Smart to Memphis.