New York Knicks: Realistic goals for Kristaps Porzingis in 2018-19

4. Play in at least 35 games

Due to the torn ACL, Kristaps Porzingis only appeared in 48 games for the New York Knicks. He was on his way to a career year, as well, in the season after Carmelo Anthony’s departure to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

According to Marc Berman of The New York Post, Porzingis might return for the Christmas Day game against the Milwaukee Bucks. If so, that leaves him with 48 games to play for the rest of the 2018-19 season.

It’s difficult to expect Porzingis to play all of them, especially with back-to-back situations and when head coach David Fizdale wants to rest his star player on other nights. That might put him in the ballpark of 40 games, but at least 35 appearances, or just a few shades below the half season mark, would be a success.

35 games give Porzingis enough time to shake off some rust and work towards game shape; this might not come to fruition until 2019-20, however, with an offseason to work out, sans injury recovery, and return in October 2019 ready.

It’s a sample size, but this timespan allows Porzingis to recover for three more months and provide enough contributions in however big his role is. How much will he do in a return to the court?