The surgical procedure that Kyrie Irving had on his knee last week may not be the last one of his career, relays A. Sherrod Blakely of NBC Sports Boston. The operation was performed to remove a tension wire that was causing irritation. It was inserted after Irving fractured his patella during the 2015 NBA Finals.
“We tried to do a minimal amount of surgery at this moment,” Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge said on 98.5 the Sports Hub. “And it might require some more. We don’t know any of that. I don’t know. … When I say it shouldn’t affect his career, I’m saying his knee is very structurally sound. It isn’t like a long-term thing. There could still be some challenges.”
Ainge added that Celtics didn’t discuss the possibility of surgery for their point guard until he started experiencing discomfort earlier this month. He is projected to be sidelined for three to six weeks.
There’s more today out of Boston:
- Jaylen Brown was relieved to get back on the court this week after missing six games with a concussion, Blakely writes in a separate story. Brown was sidelined after landing hard on a dunk in a March 8 game. “I was tired of sitting down,” he said. “I just wanted to play, get ready for the playoffs. This is what it is about. Anytime I’m out there I feel happiness.”
- Thirty-year-old guard Xavier Silas never gave up on his NBA dream while playing on a series of G League and overseas contracts, relays Mark D’Amico of NBA.com. Silas had just wrapped up his latest G League season with Northern Arizona when he learned that the Celtics were offering him a 10-day contract. “I think with me being older, I think I understand a little bit that it’s not about trying to do too much, or trying to make a big bang or a big splash,” Silas said. “It’s just, do what I’m supposed to do, and helping out the team, even if it’s little increments here and there.”
- Tim Cato of SB Nation examines how the Celtics are able to keep winning with so many key players sidelined. Last night’s comeback in Utah was the latest example as Boston wrapped up a 4-0 road trip with little-used Guerschon Yabusele making his second start of the season. Cato contends the performance makes Brad Stevens a strong contender for Coach of the Year.