NO SPAIN NO GAIN
KP taking rehab into own hands at Real Madrid training facility
CHICAGO — Kristaps Porzingis has not been doing most of his ACL rehab in Latvia as previously thought, but secretly working in Spain with Real Madrid, according to multiple sources.
Porzingis has conducted much of his offseason rehab in Madrid at its training facility that houses its superpower basketball and soccer clubs.
Real Madrid’s basketball team is in the Final Four of the EuroLeague and features top-three lottery pick Luka Doncic and ex-Knicks point guard Chasson Randle. Unless the Knicks trade up from the No. 9 draft pick, Porzingis and Doncic will not be teammates in New York.
After his exit meeting, Porzingis flew to his hometown of Leipaja, Latvia, but believes he’s in good hands in Spain, where he played three seasons in the Spanish league and speaks the language fluently.
“KP is doing great in Madrid,’’ said Carlon Colker, Porzingis’ performance doctor based in Greenwich, Conn. “His aggressive rehab is at a jaw-dropping rate. In conjunction, his body is already looking beastly. By September, he’ll be almost non-recognizable with his shirt off. We’re working on increasing his lean muscle mass and also training for a functionality and ruggedness to complement his game.’’
His best buddy, Willy Hernangomez, also lives in Spain and once played for Real Madrid.
“Things are moving on as expected,’’ Knicks general manager Scott Perry said Tuesday at the draft lottery. “We’re looking forward to monitoring him throughout the summer.”
In making good use of Real Madrid’s state-of-the-art facility, Porzingis will stay in Europe most of the offseason, continuing his unorthodox marriage to the Knicks.
New Knicks coach David Fizdale said he would visit Porzingis after this week’s draft combine, but likely will see him in Latvia so he can meet his family and see his hometown.
After his mid-February surgery, Porzingis rehabbed at the Hospital for Special Surgery, which is the Knicks’ preferred facility.
It is not uncommon for Por- zingis to go rogue. Instead of working with the Knicks staff on the strength training that goes beyond the knee rehab, he headed to Greenwich to bulk up with Colker, who was Shaquille O’Neal’s trainer and is independent of the Knicks.
Before this season, Porzingis also brought over to New York his longtime physiotherapist from the Spanish league, Manolo Valdivieso, on his own dime. Valdevieso, who worked with Porzingis when he played for Seville, is in Madrid working with Porzingis as he follows Colker’s unorthodox exercise regimen.
Colker told The Post he will visit Porzingis this summer to continue strength building. Porzingis attended only two games after the Mid-February surgery and was rarely seen at the Knicks practice facility.
Porzingis is most likely going to return from the surgery within a 10- to 12-month time frame. However, owner James Dolan added doubt to that projection when he didn’t rule out Porzingis missing the season completely in an interview last month with The Post.
On Tuesday, Perry said the club may figure out a clearer timetable at the six-month mark after surgery — which is in September. At that juncture, Porzingis will be back in the U.S.
Porzingis’ rehab is being captured in an online documentary series and the Real Madrid footage likely will highlight the next installment. The initial 24-minute episode revealed the family toasting with shots of tequila on the night of the injury as a symbolic gesture to a new chapter unfolding.