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Kristaps Porzingis (Source: X)
Kristaps Porzingis, a Celtics center, will have surgery after missing two games of the NBA Finals due to a "rare" injury. Porzingis returned to the floor on Monday night to help the Celtics upset the Dallas Mavericks 106-88 in Game 5 of the NBA Finals, winning their first championship since 2008 and the franchise's 18th overall.
He informed ESPN after the game that he will have surgery soon and will be out for a "few months" while recovering. Porzingis should have enough time to prepare for the start of the following season. Porzingis sustained a posterior tibialis dislocation in his left leg after colliding with Mavericks center Dereck Lively II while boxing out for a free throw in Game 2 of the playoffs.
Kristap Porzingis limped along the court following the incident and was removed from the game early. The team classified the ailment, which was distinct from the calf issue that held him out of the first two rounds of the playoffs, as "rare."
Porzingis played off the bench in Monday's 18-point victory at TD Garden. He finished with five points and one rebound in 16 minutes. This season, Porzingis has averaged 20.1 points and 7.2 rebounds per game for the Celtics. He was acquired in a three-way trade with the Washington Wizards last summer. The 28-year-old will begin the first year of a two-year, $60 million contract with the franchise this autumn.
Kristaps Porzingis will miss Olympics
Porzingis seems unconcerned about his approaching operation, which may hurt his summer and celebration after winning the title. After all, he has his ring. Boston Celtics achieved a league-best 64-18 record in 2023-24, despite Porzingis missing 25 regular-season games due to a calf problem. If Porzingis is fully fit by 2024-25, the Celtics have the potential to surpass their performance this season.
For the Latvian national team, this is not good news. The expanded roster for the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Riga, Latvia, featured Porzingis. Porzingis will undoubtedly have to skip the tournament, though. Two teams from each group will proceed to the semifinal round. Only the champions of each FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament 2024 will be able to compete in the Olympic Basketball Tournament at the 2024 Paris Olympics.