Kristaps Porzingis Steps Away From Warriors Citing Health

Golden State Warriors center Kristaps Porzingis announced on social media on Friday that he is stepping away from the team to prioritize his health.

Statement

"This season I was really looking forward to running it with this group, but as I ramped up, my body didn't respond the way I anticipated," Porzingis wrote in the statement. "I'm doing good, but I know what it takes, and I'm not where I want to be to perform at the level that I expect from myself. At this point, I've made the decision to prioritize my health and step away from the game I love. In this situation, I want to show the utmost respect for the Golden State Warriors and work with them to find a solution that makes sense. I'm thankful to my family and close ones for always being there. Much appreciation to all of you for the support."

Health and Contract Details

The 31-year-old has yet to suit up for the Warriors this season due to lingering effects from his postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS). Golden State initially acquired Porzingis in a Feb. 5 trade with the Atlanta Hawks. He appeared in 15 games for the Warriors during the 2025-26 season. In June, Porzingis agreed to a two-year, $40 million contract to remain with Golden State. On Sept. 28, Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. revealed that Porzingis was out indefinitely to begin training camp. Golden State announced on Oct. 14 that the center would stay sidelined indefinitely because of a "health-related matter." ESPN's Shams Charania and Anthony Slater reported Wednesday that the Warriors were not delivering semimonthly payments to Porzingis on his $20 million salary and were pursuing a potential trade. He was not actively disputing the lack of payments, and the National Basketball Players Association had no plans of disputing either, per Charania and Slater.

Career and Team Context

Porzingis opened his NBA career on the New York Knicks, earning an All-Star nod in 2018 before a torn ACL forced him to miss the entire 2018-19 season. He was traded to the Dallas Mavericks in Feb. 2019 and played for three teams over the next five seasons. He operated as a key starter on a Boston Celtics squad that captured a championship in 2024. The Warriors currently sit at 6-3 this season.

Why it matters

• Porzingis is stepping away from the Warriors to focus on his health.
• He has not played for Golden State this season due to POTS.
• He signed a two-year, $40 million contract with the Warriors in June.
• The Warriors were not delivering semimonthly payments on his $20 million salary, per ESPN reporters.

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Sources

• bleacherreport.com: Kristaps Porzingis Announces He Will 'Step Away' From Warriors in Statement Amid Health Issues
• thestar.com: Warriors center Kristaps Porzingis steps away from the NBA to focus on undisclosed health issue

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.