February 13, 2022

  • Ian BegleyESPN Staff Writer

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    • Covers the New York Knicks for ESPNNewYork.com

Kristaps Porzingis' ACL surgery is consummate. The New York Knicks' star forrard had his procedure Tuesday at the Infirmary for Special Surgery in Manhattan.

And then when volition Porzingis return to the court? That's unclear.

The expectation, at this point, is that Porzingis will be out for at least 10 months, sources tell ESPN. Simply a more specific timetable won't be available until Porzingis begins rehab.

What volition that rehabilitation process look like? And volition Porzingis exist able to render to his pre-injury class?

To provide some answers, we turned to ESPN injury expert Stephania Bell. Beneath, Bong provides insight on those topics and others related to Porzingis' recovery. (Bong, to be clear, is speaking from a general perspective with regards to Porzingis' type of injury; she is not speaking specifically of Porzingis' situation because she has not treated him).

What could Porzingis' potential timeline for recovery look like?

Bell: "On average, NBA athletes return to play in the range of ten-12 months following ACL reconstruction. It's of import to annotation that the specifics of the injury including, about importantly, whether it's an isolated [ACL-merely] injury or not [meaning multiple structures involved such as meniscus, cartilage, or other ligaments] volition dictate the complexity of the surgery and the complexity and pace of rehab. (Annotation: Porzingis' injury is believed to exist ACL-only.) The more at that place is to address in surgery, the more than circuitous the rehab. Depending on the details of the surgery, the rehab procedure can be deliberately slowed at certain points to protect tissues that are nonetheless healing even if the player feels he is progressing well.

"There are other factors that can potentially influence the rehab procedure including the athlete's ability to heal, his adherence to the rehab program, prior injury, anatomical variants, muscular imbalances or strength deficits, neuromuscular control. There are besides the specific demands of the position, the athlete's role on the team and so on. When you lot beginning to consider all the different factors that have the potential to influence an athlete's recovery, it becomes easier to capeesh the reluctance for an organization to result a firm timetable based on a diagnosis solitary."

Could this injury impact Porzingis' athleticism at all?

Bell: "Sure ... if he attempts to return before he is truly ready to return. Part of rehabbing completely from an injury like this is going beyond the basic ability of performing basketball activities to actually returning to prior level of function. That also doesn't necessarily mean that an athlete looks like his pre-injury self the first fourth dimension he steps on the court. Return to play is often referred to as the last phase of rehab considering there is no substitute for on-the-floor competition at the highest level. Most athletes volition say that they don't truly feel similar they're back to their pre-injury performance level until six months to a year after they've returned to activeness.

"They tin however exist effective in the statistics department, yet, even as they return to form. In a study published in 2022 looking at return-to-play rates and functioning of NBA players post-obit ACL reconstruction, various performance metrics [points, rebounds, blocks, etc.] declined in players returning from this injury. But, that turn down did not differ significantly from controls (no ACL tear)."

Is the injury or the recovery process unlike -- or more difficult -- because of Porzingis' seven-foot-three top?

Bell: "There isn't enough specific data on NBA big men compared to other NBA players to provide bear witness here but, anecdotally, their recovery appears to be a chip slower. The question then becomes why. Smaller, more nimble players have a higher demand in the quick-cut, pivot and agility area and have to focus rehab on this skill set prior to return. Larger players may be more challenged in terms of retraining dynamic muscular command that helps protect the knee joint.

"The long levers of the thigh and the lower leg meet at the knee and, if not well controlled by the muscles above [the hip] and below [the talocrural joint], the resultant forces can threaten the least forgiving joint -- the knee -- in the middle. Interestingly, in the case of Porzingis, when he lost command at his ankle (as he landed on Giannis Antetokounmpo'south foot), his hip could not prevent his knee joint from buckling and the issue was an ACL tear.

"Fifty-fifty prior to this injury, at that place may have been some hints he would be at gamble. Porzingis sprained his left ankle in early November. In December -- and again in Jan -- he was dealing with soreness in his left knee. Related? At that place is no fashion to know for certain but it certainly suggests he will have work to do to strengthen from pinnacle to bottom earlier he returns to action. Otherwise, he will exist at increased risk for re-injury. Given that he is a young thespian with a promising futurity, Porzingis would exist better served with a methodical and comprehensive rehab procedure addressing any global weaknesses rather than trying to meet an bogus timeline."

The route ahead will be a long and difficult one for Porzingis. At the time of his injury, the 22-twelvemonth-onetime All Star led the Knicks in scoring (22.7 points per game) and led the NBA in blocks per game (2.4). Just how the ACL injury volition touch on Porzingis' numbers going forward is unclear, simply ESPN's Kevin Pelton provided strong historical context on how ACL injuries take impacted players between ages 21-23 here. That data suggests that Porzingis' numbers may lag for two seasons following his return. But every role player's injury -- and ability to recover -- is different.

And those closest to Porzingis believe his diligent arroyo to rehab will help him return to the courtroom a improve player.

"He has a great attitude most information technology. He knows he'southward going to get back," Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek said Monday. "He knows he'southward going to be back better than always. He wishes it didn't happen that way, merely he'll able to learn things from watching the game the balance of this year. He'due south a child who wants to be one of the all-time. We know he's going to work hard to become dorsum."