Kyrie Irving Undergoes Knee Surgery; Expected to Return from Injury by Fall

Kyrie Irving's first season with the Boston Celtics ended sooner than he and the team had hoped, but he should be ready to go for his second year in green and white.

Boston announced on Saturday that Irving underwent successful knee surgery and is expected to be healthy by the fall (h/t ESPN's Chris Forsberg):

Irving initially underwent surgery near the end of March "to remove a tension wire in his left knee" that was placed there during a previous procedure for an injury suffered during the 2015 NBA Finals. Removing that wire was supposed to relieve irritation in his patellar tendon. His expected timetable to return to the court was three to six weeks.

However, Irving and the Celtics recently determined that he would need additional surgery—which would end his season—to remove two screws in his patella. Now, he is expected to need four to five months to recover.

The 26-year-old was putting up his usual numbers during his first season in Boston, averaging 24.4 points, 5.1 assists and 3.8 rebounds in 60 games in 2017-18. He shot a career-high 49.1 percent from the floor, 40.8 percent from beyond the arc and 88.9 percent from the line.

After losing Gordon Hayward to a dislocated left ankle and fractured left tibia on opening night, the Celtics could not afford to lose Irving and still expect to contend for a title. The five-time All-Star helped lead his team to the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference, though he will not have a chance to help Boston take advantage of its seeding.

It's been a tough year for a team that was expected to contend for a championship. While their title hopes suffered a blow with Irving's latest surgery, the Celtics are looking at the bigger picture. This season may not end with banner No. 18, but making sure Irving and Hayward are healthy entering next season gives the team hope for the future.