ORLANDO, Fla. — David Fizdale hasn’t gotten word to suggest Kristaps Porzingis is close to being allowed to practice with the team.

Nine months after his ACL surgery, Porzingis raised eyebrows last week with remarks in a magazine interview in which he said, “I’m already doing some contact drills and things where I’m competing against somebody. It’s good that it’s coming to an end.”

That sounded like his rehab was about to morph into team practices. While that does not appear to be the case, at least Fizdale sounded like Porzingis is coming back this season.

“I don’t think it’s at that place [of returning to practice],” Fizdale said. “At some point, I would think. I know he’s feeling better. Obviously his progress, we’re all excited about every step he takes forward. The trainers are keeping me in the loop as possible while letting me focus at the same time so I don’t get my hopes up for [Porzingis] too soon. But hopefully, the sooner the better.”

Knicks president Steve Mills, in a radio interview in late June, didn’t rule out Porzingis’ return as early as the nine-month mark. Fizdale got into hot water recently when he said he “wasn’t planning” on Porzingis returning this season, noting the forward hadn’t started sprinting yet. Porzingis followed those remarks up with an Instagram post of him sprinting on a track.

Regarding the alleged contact drills, Fizdale said Porzingis is not performing them against Knicks players but the training staff.

“We’re still going to stay with the idea that until it feels 100 percent to he, I and the Knicks, that we’re not going to put him in jeopardy to get hurt again,” Fizdale said. “We want to do it the right way by him and also the best thing for our team.”

Asked if there is any chance of Porzingis being cleared for practice by Thanksgiving, Fizdale said, “Nothing that I’ve heard that would give me the indication that he’s back that soon.”

Forward Mario Hezonja was back in Orlando for the first time with the Knicks but had a bout of food poisoning. He planned to suit up, but Fizdale wasn’t sure he’d be playing.

Fizdale didn’t play him in New Orleans, but that wasn’t related to his illness. Fizdale said Hezonja’s “decision-making” remains the No. 1 concern with the 2015 lottery pick of the Magic.

“He’s so talented he tries a lot of stuff,” Fizdale said. “If we’re going to move forward with him in the future, here are the traits we need him to have, and let’s gear his game toward this, and let’s deal with some of the uncomfortable bumps and bruises. We are figuring out who is he and give him a chance to develop an identity in this league.”