Kristaps Porziņģis steps away from basketball — Golden State Warriors center Kristaps Porziņģis announced Friday that he is stepping away from professional basketball to focus on his health, stating that his body did not respond as expected when he tried to ramp up for the season. The 31-year-old has not appeared in a game for the Warriors this season, and it remains uncertain when or whether he will return to the court.
A Career Marked by Health Challenges
Porziņģis has faced persistent health problems throughout his career. Since being selected fourth overall by the New York Knicks in 2015, he has played more than 57 games in a season only three times. A torn ACL cost him the entire 2018-19 campaign, and in recent years he has been limited by an illness that first emerged during the 2024-25 season with the Boston Celtics.
He has previously disclosed a diagnosis of postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, or POTS, which causes rapid heart rate changes upon standing and can lead to exhaustion and dizziness. In a prior statement, Porziņģis described experiencing extreme fatigue, saying he could lie on the couch like a house cat. He has also dealt with injuries that have added up over time.
Warriors Contract and Roster Situation
Porziņģis signed a two-year, $40 million contract with the Warriors in free agency this summer. The second year of the deal carries only a $3 million guarantee. Reports earlier this week indicated that the team is withholding payments from him. He has been away from the Warriors since late September and released a statement in mid-October denying rumors that he had been diagnosed with HIV or AIDS. At that time, the Warriors said he would be out indefinitely.
The Warriors had hoped Porziņģis would play a significant role as a floor-spacing big man, especially with Jimmy Butler (torn ACL) and Moses Moody (torn patellar tendon) sidelined. Instead, it appears increasingly likely that he may never play for the franchise again. The team has reportedly explored trading his $20 million cap figure, which could be attractive to teams looking to shed longer-term salary, with Porziņģis serving as matching salary and potentially draft picks involved.
Warriors Adapt Without Porziņģis
Despite his absence, Golden State has started the season 6-3 and sits seventh in the crowded Western Conference. Rookie big man Yaxel Lendeborg has stepped up in Porziņģis’ place, averaging 21 points, 7.1 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.1 steals through nine games while shooting 49.2% from the field and 39.6% from 3-point range.
In his statement, Porziņģis expressed respect for the Warriors and a desire to work with them on a solution. He thanked his family and close ones for their support and acknowledged the frustration of dealing with health issues that are difficult to pinpoint. “Health is wealth,” he wrote in a previous update.
