Stevens details Porzingis’ unlikely path to playing in Game 5 originally appeared on KeynoteUSA Sports Boston
Kristaps Porzingis delivered a historic quote after suffering a leg injury in Game 2 of the 2024 NBA Finals.
“We will do everything possible to come back and move forward well.” Boston Celtics big man said;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas” class=”link “>said the Boston Celtics big man. “I’ll die out there if I have to.”
That was before Porzingis and the Celtics knew the exact nature of the injury. He was diagnosed with a “torn medial retinaculum that allowed dislocation of the posterior tibial tendon of his left leg.” It is a rare injury that, as Porzingis would reveal after the final, requires surgery.
Porzingis didn’t play in Games 3 or 4 of the series, but there was no way he was going to miss the championship decider at TD Garden. In an exclusive 1-on-1 with our Celtics insider Chris Forsberg, C’s President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens detailed how the Latvian star found his way back to the court.
“It was pretty clear it was going to be uncomfortable, but there’s not much you could do to make it worse,” Stevens said of Porzingis’ injury. “And it would really be about whether he could come back with the help of our medical staff. Because he was going to have to fix it anyway.
“I didn’t think I was going to play in Game 5 when I left the building on Sunday, and he woke up that morning and said, ‘No, I’m playing, I don’t care. It hurts, but it is what it is.’ “
Porzingis recorded five points and one rebound in 16 minutes during Boston’s Game 5 victory over the Dallas Mavericks. Although he was unable to make his usual impact on the game, his presence was felt with the roar of the TD Garden crowd every time he touched the ball or appeared on the video board.
Shortly after the Celtics’ championship celebration, coach Joe Mazzulla revealed that Porzingis “overruled” the team’s medical staff to play Game 5. That decision was emblematic of the team’s mentality with Banner 18 within reach.
“All these guys really loved him, there’s no doubt about it, and he wanted to be a part of it,” Stevens added. “Even in Game 4, he wasn’t feeling very good. We were just going to use him in a unique scenario where you might have to put him on the ball with 0.2 seconds left or whatever the case may be. But he just wanted to be in uniform.
“And I think in Game 5 he just said it wasn’t going to be comfortable. And he had a couple closeouts where it looked like he was struggling to get out, but I think his presence and that willingness to play accelerated the game.” He got it together, he revved our guys up, and now he’s going to go and have the surgery and when he comes back, he’ll be completely ready.”
On Tuesday, the Celtics announced that Porzingis will undergo surgery in the coming days and will not play for his native Latvia in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. Stevens told reporters that the team will have a better idea of Porzingis’ recovery timeline after surgery.
Watch Forsberg’s full 1-on-1 with Stevens below or on YouTube:
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