New York Knicks: How To Approach Kristaps Porzingis’ Achilles Injury
Kristaps Porzingis has missed multiple games with an achilles injury. How should the New York Knicks approach his rehabilitation?
The New York Knicks have lost six consecutive games, including three straight without star power forward Kristaps Porzingis. Porzingis is currently nursing what’s been reported as a sore achilles tendon.
The question is: what should the Knicks do to simultaneously protect the future face of the franchise and facilitate his return?
Marc Berman of The New York Post recently spoke with Dr. Anish R. Kadakia. Kadakia is the, “Associate professor of orthopedic surgery and fellowship director of Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Fellowship at Northwestern University.”
Per Berman, Kadakia corroborated the belief that the reason for Porzingis’ injury is the drastic increase in playing time.
"“That’s the problem,’’ Kadakia said, “leading the team in minutes played. That’s really a lot for him at this point, the excess strain and the length of time he’s playing. A couple of things can be done — decrease playing time and at the same time have a regimented physical therapy for the Achilles to make it stronger for the future, a regimented program to build up tolerance. He’s not ready for it coming from a college or European schedule.”"
That’s a fair and medical evaluation of why Porzingis is currently enduring the issues he is.
Porzingis is a 7’3″ and 240-pound physical anomaly who’s as athletic and coordinated as any player his size ever has been. True as that may be, he’s also making a physically grueling transition from Spain’s Liga ACB to the NBA.
That’s a massive increase from a 34-game regular season in Liga ACB to an 82-game regular season in the NBA.
He’s also experienced a rise in playing time from 28.4 minutes per game in 2015-16 to 34.2 minutes per game in 2016-17.
Between an increase in both minutes per game and games played per season, Porzingis was all but destined to endure physical trials.
Thankfully, Porzingis hasn’t suffered a severe enough injury to require surgery. Unfortunately, an achilles injury of any nature can be career-threatening, which is why he must approach this issue with both patience and perseverance.
The question is: what should Porzingis and the Knicks do to best prepare him for a full recovery?
"“A young person, it’s usually a strain from overuse,’’ Kadakia said. “He just needs rest and focused physical therapy.”"
As difficult as it may be, patience will be the key.
The Knicks can’t afford to lose Porzingis to a severe injury. He was drafted No. 4 overall in the 2015 NBA Draft and was subsequently labeled the next face of the franchise—an honor he’s justified in 2016-17.
Porzingis is currently averaging 20.1 points, 7.9 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.9 blocks, and 2.1 3-point field goals made per game.
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Desperate as the Knicks are for Porzingis’ return, the safe approach would be for the 21-year-old phenom to take his time and only come back when he’s 100 percent.