Kristaps Porzingis Admits Hard Truth About His Return from Injury

The Boston Celtics are finally fully healthy as we slowly approach the midway mark of the NBA regular season. This includes Kristaps Porzingis, who underwent surgery to repair a tendon in his left ankle in the offseason. The All-Star big man made his return on November 25 and played in nine games since.

After his most recent game, the win against the Chicago Bulls on Saturday, Porzingis admitted that he was still not 100% on the court. Saying that his shot and conditioning need to get better, the Latvian center stated that he needs more time to fully "get there".

Celtics News: Kristaps Porzingis Admits He Isn't 100% Ready

Porzingis had a retinaculum surgery at the end of June and was given five to six months of recovery time. He returned after five months, so his still not being ready is completely understandable.

"Honestly, still getting there. I want to feel a little bit better. I know I’m playing a little bit better, but my percentage is not perfect. Not feeling my shot perfectly...I just still feel like I need to save just a bit of energy."

- Kristaps Porzingis

Even when he isn't at 100%, Porzingis has been very valuable for the Celtics. In 27.7 minutes per game, he is averaging 19.4 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game. His three-point shot hasn't been falling, as he is 33% for the season. Yet, with a True Shooting at 59.5%, Porzingis is still an efficient player on the court.

Fortunately for the Celtics, they have the luxury to not rush Porzingis. They are 22-6 and look like a good bet to finish with a top-two seed in the Eastern Conference. Taking over the Cavaliers for home-court advantage would obviously be nice, but being healthy and clicking for the playoffs is more important than playoff seeding for the reigning champions.

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