Celtics Receive Bad Long-Term Injury News on Kristaps Porzingis
By Cem Yolbulan
After a dominant regular-season and postseason performance, the Boston Celtics hung the 18th championship banner of the franchise. They received impressive individual contributions from all of their rotation players but Kristaps Porzingis' sacrifice to return from injury for the NBA Finals was especially admirable.
The Latvian big man had returned from his calf injury that he sustained in the first round of the playoffs in the NBA Finals. After an impressive two games against the Dallas Mavericks, Porzingis then suffered a new injury in his left leg. He ended up missing Games 3 and 4 but returned in the title-clinching game despite being visibly hobbled.
Celtics fans finally received more details about their All-Star big man's injury. Team president Brad Stevens disclosed on Ryen Rusillo's podcast that Porzingis was undergoing surgery in the coming days and would miss the start of next season.
Celtics News: Porzingis to Miss Start of 2024-25 Season
Brad Stevens says Kristaps Porzingis will miss the start of next season, per @ryenarussillo. pic.twitter.com/H6pQIE9ygz
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) June 26, 2024
This is obviously a major blow for the Celtics. Even though Boston has shown its ability to replace Porzingis in the starting lineup without missing a beat, this undoubtedly puts more workload on the rest of the team. Al Horford has been incredible in Porzingis's stead but he will be one year older and it would behoove the Celtics to keep the 38-year-old as fresh as possible for the playoffs.
Therefore, the Celtics either need to make sure they re-sign Luke Kornet and Xavier Tillman in free agency or bring in another center they trust in the regular season. Otherwise, they are going to have to rely heavily on Horford and play small-ball lineups where Tatum and Brown have to guard bigger players. It is not an ideal situation to put that much defensive workload on them so early in the season.
Brad Stevens and Joe Mazzulla will certainly have some tricks up their sleeves to weather this storm but the Celtics will need Porzingis healthy and productive if they want to repeat as champions.
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