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Boston Celtics
guard Kemba Walker received a stem cell injection in his left
knee and won't return until the first week of January at the
earliest.
The Celtics said Tuesday that Walker received the injection
after visits with multiple specialists in early October. He was
put on a 12-week strengthening program.
The team said Walker is expected to resume on-court activities
in early December. In early January, the team plans to update
his availability for games.
Walker, 30, is entering the second year of a four-year deal with
the Celtics. He averaged 19.6 points in the playoffs, and team
president Danny Ainge said it was clear Walker was not himself
due to the knee injury.
Asked Tuesday if the Celtics believe there are long-term
concerns over Walker's knee, Ainge pointed to the season ahead.
"I think ... this year will tell us a lot," Ainge said.
While Walker wouldn't blame his three-time surgically repaired
left knee for his play, Ainge and head coach Brad Stevens said
it was hampering him throughout the 2 1/2 months the team spent
at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex near Orlando after the
season restarted this summer.
"I could see, even when he was (in Boston) before the bubble
started, which is why he was shut down a little bit and doing
strength training and trying to prepare himself for the playoff
run and the intensity of the playoff run, but he was definitely
not himself," Ainge said during a season wrap-up conference
call.
"In fairness to Kemba, he doesn't want to say that. He doesn't
say that to our coaches. He doesn't say that to you, the media.
He doesn't say that to me. I haven't heard one excuse from him.
But watching the games, even the games we won, even the games
where he played well, I could tell he wasn't the same physically
as he was in October, November, December. So we're going to try
to get that Kemba back."
Walker averaged 20.4 points, 4.8 assists and 3.9 rebounds last
season. The four-time All-Star played the previous eight seasons
for the Charlotte franchise.
Walker first mentioned knee soreness to the Celtics before the
All-Star Game in February. At that point, he had the knee
drained of fluid and received an injection of Synvisc.
--Field Level Media
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