Kristaps Porziņģis is back on the court. A re-evaluation next week will determine his readiness for a return to game action after Achilles tendinitis.
The Atlanta Hawks took a meaningful step forward with their frontcourt health Monday, announcing that Kristaps Porziņģis has resumed basketball activity as he works his way back from injury.
Porziņģis, who has missed the past eight games with left Achilles tendinitis, is participating in on-court basketball work and will be re-evaluated in approximately one week, the team said. No return date has been established.
Atlanta acquired Porziņģis from the Boston Celtics last July in a salary-dump deal, bringing in a veteran big man whose impact has been evident when available. While injuries have limited his time on the floor, Porziņģis has remained productive, providing scoring, spacing and rim protection.
In 17 games this season, Porziņģis has averaged 17.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 24.3 minutes per game. He is shooting 45.7% from the field and 36.0% from 3-point range while converting 84.0% of his free throws. Defensively, he has averaged 1.3 blocks per game, giving Atlanta a reliable presence at the rim.
Achilles tendinitis is an injury teams typically handle with caution, particularly for larger players. Atlanta’s approach reflects that reality, opting to delay any return timeline until Porziņģis demonstrated he could handle increased basketball activity without setbacks.
Before the injury, Porziņģis had been a stabilizing force in the Hawks’ rotation. His ability to stretch the floor created spacing advantages offensively, while his size allowed Atlanta to adjust defensive coverages without sacrificing rim protection. Even in limited minutes, his presence altered how opponents defended and attacked.
The re-evaluation window gives Atlanta a clearer checkpoint as it assesses Porziņģis’ readiness for contact work and, eventually, game action. The coming days will determine whether his workload can continue to increase or if further caution is required.
The update on Porziņģis came alongside broader injury news for the Hawks. Forward Zaccharie Risacher remains out for Monday’s game against Indiana due to a left knee bone contusion but is considered day-to-day as he progresses in his recovery.
Together, the updates reflect Atlanta’s deliberate approach to managing injuries across the roster. Rather than rushing players back, the Hawks have emphasized long-term availability and health, even as absences test depth and rotation continuity.
For Porziņģis, resuming basketball activity represents a critical step. If his Achilles responds well, the upcoming re-evaluation could bring clarity to his path back to the court, offering Atlanta the possibility of reintegrating one of its most impactful frontcourt pieces in the near future.