The Boston Celtics made a gamble in the offseason when they decided to ship out Marcus Smart in a three-team trade that landed them Kristaps Porzingis.
The Celtics felt the need to shake the roster up after losing in seven games to the Miami Heat in the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals, and acquiring Porzingis meant they would be shifting the identity of the team.
In the 2022–23 NBA season, Porzingis appeared healthy, and as a result, he had one of his best seasons to date as a near-All-Star.
The Latvian big man has fit right in with Boston thus far, adding some much-needed scoring punch and a reliable rim protector.
But Porzingis has also had a history of injuries, and during their most recent game against the Orlando Magic, he experienced some calf tightness.
Porzingis appears to have escaped serious harm, and he revealed on his own Instagram story that he was already making arrangements to return to the court through NBC’s Chris Forsberg.
“Good news this morning,” wrote Porzingis. be back very soon” on the post, indicating that the medical team found nothing concerning about his calf.
Given the depth of centers on the team, the Celtics, who need Porzingis, can clearly breathe a sigh of relief.
Boston ultimately lost to Orlando without Porzingis, but ultimately, the former All-Star’s health should come first.
Although Porzingis’s forced absence is still unknown, it appears that he will be able to return sooner rather than later.
