When Kristaps Porzingis debuted with the Knicks in 2015, Kevin Durant called him a basketball “unicorn.” You may wonder, why? The Latvian power forward’s outstanding front-line force to effortlessly shoot from any position makes him quite lethal. However, missing the playoffs in the last season wasn’t surely on Porzingis’ bingo cards. Of course, the Celtics too didn’t see that coming- but well, things, and odd ones might we add, keep happening.

The Boston Celtics had one of the most glorious seasons in 2023-24. Kristaps Porzingis was one of their many frontmen who led the show. But, a calf strain, followed by a series of injuries including a major lower left leg injury kept him away during the crucial playoffs. However, Porzingis came off the bench in the Finals and scored five points. Thus helping his team in securing the record-breaking 18th Championship title. But now, a question has popped up: When will Kristaps Porzingis make a comeback? Well, as curious and concerning as this may sound, experts believe the 29YO could possibly miss the first two and a half months of the 2024-25 NBA season.

Kristaps Porzingis’s absence from the court could affect the Celtic’s title-defending campaign

The Latvian center had to undergo a procedure to repair a torn retinaculum. In addition to this, his dislocated posterior tibialis tendon also required surgery. This means Kristaps Porzingis will likely miss the start of the 2024-25 title-defending campaign. The Celtics won 64 games with a historic point differential and then cruised through the playoffs, losing only three games. But, the victories of the past do not guarantee a glorious upcoming campaign. Making this point clear, pundit Tim MacMahon said: “You can make a case why other teams have a chance to win the Championship but can’t make a case for somebody else is the favorite.” MacMahon further clarified: “Porzingis, whatever the estimate is on, I think the timetable had him coming back maybe around Christmas.”

So, Kristaps Porzingis will return sometime around Christmas or maybe in 2025, as Tim Bontemps points out. MacMahon analyzes: “So let’s say he misses the first two and a half months of the season; I do think he will be cautious. He felt like he rushed back his last full year in Dallas and ended up looking bad.” Surprisingly, the “unicorn” has had a career full of injuries. During his Mavericks stint, he faced an ACL injury, a lateral meniscus tear, and some knee injuries. So, the Latvian giant wouldn’t want a reiteration of that at the Celtics as well. Being cautious will be a priority as that will only help in Porzingis’s speedy recovery and return to the NBA.

Moreover, the Celtics have five centers on the roster. Al Horford will most likely take up Kristaps Porzingis’ role until he returns. Meanwhile, the one-time NBA All-Star, 7’2 Latvian player will get much time to heal his injuries and come back for the most crucial period from April to June. Of course, the Boston Celtics will miss Porzingis’ presence on the court, but if they want to truly defend the title, then careful considerations and patience will be of utmost importance.

The “unicorn” and his history of injuries throughout his career

Let’s take a quick rewind through Kristaps Porzingis’ struggles with injuries. As glorious as his career may seem, a series of mishaps have acted as major hurdles- keeping him benched for weeks or months at a go. The most recent one from Porzingis’s list of endless setbacks is the torn medial retinaculum in his left leg and dislocated posterior tibialis tendon. This occurred during the third quarter of Game 2 against the Dallas Mavericks. However, the Celtics center returned for the finals to add five points to his team’s tally.

Meanwhile, in the 2017-18 NBA season, Kristaps came face to face with an athlete’s nightmare- the ACL injury. The then-Knicks player fell on Giannis Antetokoumpo‘s leg, and Porzingis was seen writhing in pain, unable to stand up. This incident brought down the shutter on the Latvian giant’s season. The most disappointing part of this was that Kristaps Porzingis was selected as an All-Star for the first time. However, this of course wasn’t the first time that the ‘unicorn’ had an early end to his season.

Myriads of injuries have marred Kristaps Porzingis’ career so far. Despite the odds, the 29-year-old has had his impact in the games. Therefore, he remains a valuable asset for the Boston Celtics. Now, returning to the question: Will the Celtics be affected by their power forward’s absence? And, can the team defend their championship title? The upcoming season awaits the answers.