Kemba Walker is expected to return to practice on Tuesday after passing a battery of tests for his neck sprain, Chris Forsberg of NBC Sports Boston tweets.
The Celtics point guard was injured when he collided with teammate Semi Ojeleye in Denver on Friday. Walker, one of the top free agents on the market this past summer, was taken off the court in a stretcher and transported to a local hospital.
Team physician Tony Schena said Walker experienced numbness and tingling after his collision but never lost consciousness. After going to a Level 1 trauma center, Walker had a full neurological evaluation, including a full set of X-rays. That was followed by an MRI and a special set of X-rays to ensure all motion was intact and everything was normal, according Schena.
“Essentially, he has no significant structural damage to the bony architecture of his neck or the soft tissue around his neck,” Schena said.
The news is good not only for the Celtics but the league. Walker, one of the league’s most popular players, has been a major part of Boston’s hot start, averaging 22.6 PPG, 4.9 RPG and 4.8 APG. Walker signed a four-year, max deal with the Celtics early in free agency.