Porzingis takes ACL rehab head on

On February 13., Kristaps Porzingis underwent successful Anterior Cruciate Ligament repair surgery. This comes after sustaining a full tear one week earlier. After going up for a dunk against the Milwaukee Bucks, Porzingis came down hard on his left knee. With some assistance he was taken off the floor and it was he revealed that he tore his ACL. The dreaded ACL tear is notorious for ruining the potential of budding superstars (i.e. Derrick Rose). The hope is that such a tragic fate won’t befall Porzingis, but at the bare minimum the 7-3 forward will remain out for the rest of this season and part of next season.

Recovery Bound

Soon after getting the surgery Porzingis took to social media to promise fans that he’d be attacking physical therapy. Regaining strength in his leg and focusing on a full recovery is paramount to the star’s future. He more than likely had to have the ligament replaced with a synthetic graft and he will initially be struggling to get used to the hollow feeling that follows the surgery. Porzingis may not be the same player when he returns, but that doesn’t have to be a bad thing.

Future Adjustments

The NBA is currently going through an era where long range shooters are thriving. Luckily for New York, Porzingis is not an old school big man. He has a shot, he knows how to space the floor, and he doesn’t need to penetrate the paint in order to score. Of course, post recovery, he may still want to take it to the rim every now and again for flare, morale, or just because he’s open. However, if Porzingis transitioned to a full-time shooter to prevent further injury, it may be an adjustment that the offense can live with. It might be understatement, but the Knicks’ future success is wholly dependent on Porzingis’ recovery and adjustment.

Onward

Sitting now in 11^th place in the East, any playoff berth the Knicks might have had went down with Porzingis. In his absence, the team has tried to look at other players to take over as the main scorer (i.e. Trey Burke and Tim Hardaway Jr.). At this rate, though, the Knicks will likely not be able to get back into contention. Though that may seem bleak, Kristaps Porzingis will return next season, which gives the Knicks a lot of time to improve.

Closing Thoughts

The Knicks do not have to be dead in the water. The have good pieces to either build on or trade in hopes of a playoff run. Tim Hardaway Jr., Enes Kanter, Frank Ntilikina, and now Trey Burke are still developing as both players and teammates. With new additions on the team like Emmanuel Mudiay and other additions hopefully on the way, the Knicks may be able to make some noise next season. Until then the thoughts and prayers of every Knicks fan goes out to Porzingis for a healthy and speedy recovery.