Tristan Thompson may not be available to the Boston Celtics at the start of the season. The Big Man is currently absent due to a thigh injury. Whether he will be fit in time for the team’s season opener on December 23rd is questionable.
“That’s hard to say,” replied Celtics coach Brad Stevens when asked about the 29-year-old’s fitness level a few weeks before the Celts’ opening game against the Milwaukee Bucks. “He has not yet been part of training. He has only trained very lightly so far, 2-on-2, 3-on-3 and simulated moves. That’s it.”
Thompson signed a two-year contract for $ 19 million in Boston in the offseason to strengthen the front court around national player Daniel Theis. Since his ex-team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, did not participate in the restart of last season at Disney World, he has not played a game in nine months. That could have contributed to the injury, Thompson injured his thigh shortly before the start of the training camp.
“He hasn’t played for a long time. When he can get back into training, there will be a start-up phase for him,” said Stevens. “I don’t expect him to come back to training and play the next day. I think it will take a little longer. I don’t know what that means for December 23rd.”
At the start of the season, the Celtics have to do without Kemba Walker, who will probably not be able to intervene until January at the earliest. After an operation in his left knee, the 30-year-old point guard is currently in individual training.
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