Porzingis felt 'fluid' in 1st 5-on-5 practice since tearing ACL
Kristaps Porzingis took part in his first full five-on-five practice Wednesday, exactly 13 months after undergoing surgery on his left ACL.
The Dallas Mavericks big man was understandably far from peak form but was encouraged with his first bit of action after such a long layoff.
"I missed the shots today, but I felt good on the court, I felt comfortable, I felt fluid and I think that's important," Porzingis said, according to team reporter Dwain Price. "The shots will start falling and the more we play, the more I play. It’s good to finally be able to do something physical, so I'm happy."
The 7-foot-3 Latvian admitted he could've been back on the court sooner but wanted to proceed through his rehab with caution.
"We really took our time, we really stayed patient, I stayed really patient," Porzingis said. "I'm proud of myself for staying that patient. But now it's here, I'm excited and I can't wait for the next practice."
Despite his progress, the former fourth overall pick is not expected to suit up this season.
Porzingis was acquired from the New York Knicks in a seven-player blockbuster deal in January. The 23-year-old averaged 17.8 points, 7.1 boards, and two blocks across 186 games for his former club.
He's a restricted free agent but reportedly intends to sign a $4.5-million qualifying offer for next season.