Celtics' Kristaps Porzingis reveals target for injury return

Kristaps Porzingis will receive his 2024 NBA championship ring on Oct. 22 when the Celtics host the Knicks and raise Banner No. 18 at TD Garden. However, the Latvian won't suit up for the C's after undergoing offseason surgery for an ankle injury he suffered in Game 2 of the NBA Finals. 

As Porzingis rehabs the injury, he is determined to rejoin his teammates before the end of the year. In an interview with ESPN's Ramona Shelburne, the Latvian provided a target timeline for his return.  

"The expectation is sometime in December," Porzingis told ESPN. "But I'm feeling really good and I'm working towards hopefully playing earlier than that."

Despite Porzingis' eagerness to return to the court, the Celtics don't plan to rush back their star big man, per the team's president of basketball operations, Brad Stevens. 

"[Porzingis' injury is] unique enough that we won't obviously rush anything," Stevens told ESPN. "But I would say that if we have a timeline in our head, we're very, very encouraged by where he is."

The Celtics have little reason to rush back the 7-footer when they have a quality sub in Al Horford, not to mention two adept backups in Xavier Tillman Sr. and Luke Kornet. Horford started all five NBA Finals games in Porzingis' stead, averaging 7.0 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.2 steals. Porzingis, who suffered an injury in Game 2, made a brief appearance in Game 5 but was bothered by his ankle injury. Luckily for Boston, Horford held his own at the center spot, ensuring Porzingis' void wasn't felt. 

Yet, Boston needs a healthy Porzingis in its pursuit of repeating as NBA champions — a feat no team has achieved since the 2017-18 Warriors. Last season, the sharpshooting big provided a different dynamic to the Celtics, often being referred to as "a cheat code" who made the team nearly unbeatable. That was very evident in Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the Mavericks when Porzingis added 20 points, six rebounds and three blocks in just 20:34 to blow the game open in the Celtics' favor. 

Porzingis averaged 20.1 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.9 blocks from 57 regular-season games last year.