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Porzingis' rehab complete, Carlisle says load management a possibility

Omar Vega / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Kristaps Porzingis' 20-month rehabilitation odyssey from a torn left ACL is complete, Dallas Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle said on Monday, according to Mavs.com's Dwain Price.

While Porzingis is expected to play in some of the Mavs' preseason games, Carlisle added that he anticipates some form of regular-season load management for the 7-foot-3 forward, according to the Dallas Morning News' Brad Townsend. That includes possibly sitting out one end of some back-to-back games.

Porzingis last played an NBA contest on Feb. 6, 2018, as a member of the New York Knicks. He was traded to the Mavericks in January before off-court issues emerged. A New York woman accused him of rape this spring, and then footage surfaced over the summer of a bloodied Porzingis involved in an apparent brawl.

At Mavericks media day on Monday, Porzingis said he's focused on basketball and excited about finally playing alongside Luka Doncic.

"When I was out it made me realize how much I missed this life," he said. "I've never played with a guy like Luka before ... the atmosphere (here is) very European-like in the locker room. It reminded me of the days when I was in Sevilla (a Spanish club) and it was very family-like."

Porzingis put on nearly 20 pounds of muscle this summer in the gym.

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