KP’s caution understandable, but vital he gets on court this season

KRISTAPS Porzingis wore his white Knicks uniform Monday, sitting on a dais on media day, deflecting questions about when he will don his jersey in a game.

“There is no timetable yet,’’ Porzingis said. “It won’t happen until I am 110 percent and medically cleared.’’ Could he miss the season? “It’s hard to say,’’ Porzingis said, meaning anything is possible. He said he’s been cleared for “light running,” but no sprinting.

Back in New York after a long spring and summer spent rehabbing in Europe, Porzingis blocked many of the questions like he once blocked shots.

Amid the trend of longer timetables for ACL recovery and players posting videos of their slow-progress rehab, fans seem to believe it wiser and more honorable to come back later than sooner.

At last Monday’s Garden fanfest, a fan pref- aced a question to Knicks president Steve Mills by saying she feels it best Porzingis miss the entire season so he can come back stronger in 2019-20. The fan received a rousing ovation from an audience of amateur orthopedists.

It is the wrong way to root. There are so many solid reasons for Porzingis to play a good chunk of games this season. The argument to hold him out because t he Knicks aren’t going to make the playoffs is misguided.

Mills answered the fan’s query by stating the Knicks will do nothing that puts Porzingis’ future as a franchise player “in jeopardy.’’

There is reason for extra caution. His body type — 7-foot-3 and lanky — is unique. Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz came back Sunday at the 10-month mark of his ACL tear. Different sport. Ex-Knick Iman Shumpert made it back to the court from his ACL tear after 10 months. Different bodies.

“We’ve done things differently because there is no protocol for a 7-3 guy,’’ Porzingis said in his first comments to Knicks media since mid-April. “So we’ve done things differently, very conservative, and at the same time, killing myself working. We’re just going to have to keep moving forward, keep progressing and see when is the right time for me to be back.”

And then Porzingis revealed the most important detail of what his return timetable really will be based on. Porzingis’ return, whether at around 10 months (Christmas) or 12 months (All-Star weekend), will be based on data from strength tests he will need to pass with his knees and quads.

“I’m not going to be the one to decide,’’ Porzingis said. “There’s going to be testing and some proof that I’m ready, my leg is strong as before or even stronger. There’s going to be proof behind that fact.”

“Take that for data,” as new Knicks coach David Fizdale famously once uttered. If Porzingis passes his battery of tests, he’ll be back on the court — playoff race or not.

Toward the end of Monday’s interrogation, in a bit of symbolism, Porzingis was joined at the table by rookie phenom Kevin Knox. That’s one of the biggest factors in getting Porzingis back: having the two young forwards working together and gaining chemistry.

“He had some really good highlights in summer league,’’ Porzingis said. “I’m looking forward to getting to know him more and seeing how he plays.’’

Porzingis also needs to learn Fizdale’s system. And he needs to play basketball again.

Porzingis is not a finished product. After his MVP-caliber start last season, his offense tailed off after mid-December. He has already lost months of development on the court — the final 26 games of last season and a summer of scrimmages.

According to multiple medical experts, there is no definitive medical evidence that the longer a player sits out after the 10-month mark, the lower the likelihood he will re-tear an ACL. ACL science is imprecise.

It is important for potential 2019 free-agent additions to see evidence of Porzingis establishing a bond with Knox and Frank Ntilikina. You also can’t blame Knicks brass wanting to have Porzingis play in games before throwing him a contract extension worth $160 million-$190 million next summer.

The decision to rehab at Real Madrid’s facilities was Porzingis’ to make. It’s his off- season. It’s his leg. It’s his continent.

Knicks brass probably preferred him rehabbing at Manhattan’s Hospital for Special Surgery, being with Knicks teammates during their summer scrimmages. But that’s history now. Fizdale and his wife got an allexpense-paid trip to Latvia out of it.

“That was really nice that he came all the way to Liepaja to come visit me and spend some time with me and his wife,’’ Porzingis said. “We spent time talking about basketball, talking about life.”

Porzingis, once dismayed with the franchise’s direction, said he now feels “good vibes.’’ He is “itchy’’ and “hungry’’ to play. As he left the podium, Porzingis patted Knox on the shoulder. One day Porzingis will pat him after a big shot.

That will occur only after Porzingis puts up the right numbers on a series of strength tests. Take that for data.