Golden State Warriors center Kristaps Porziņģis announced Friday that he is stepping away from basketball to prioritize his health, citing mysterious medical issues that have limited his career. The 31-year-old Latvian has not played for the Warriors this season, and the team has reportedly withheld payments while he remains sidelined.
Porziņģis signed a two-year, $40 million contract with Golden State in free agency this summer, though only $3 million of the second year is guaranteed. In a statement, he said his body did not respond as anticipated during his ramp-up, and he wants to show respect to the organization while working toward a solution. He thanked his family and fans for their support.
History of Health Problems
Porziņģis' career has been marked by injuries and illness. Since being drafted 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 season. More recently, a mysterious illness emerged during his time with the Boston Celtics in the 2024-25 season, leading to extreme fatigue and a diagnosis of postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), a condition causing rapid heart rate changes upon standing.
"You know how people say, 'Oh, I'm so fatigued.' I've never used those words... but I really was like that," Porziņģis said previously. "At that time, I could just lay on the couch and be a house cat."
Recent Absence and Trade Speculation
Porziņģis has been away from the Warriors since late September. In mid-October he released a statement denying rumors that he had been diagnosed with HIV or AIDS, saying he was working with doctors to return to full health. The Warriors subsequently ruled him out indefinitely.
The team had hoped Porziņģis would provide floor-spacing as a big man while Jimmy Butler (torn ACL) and Moses Moody (torn patellar tendon) are sidelined. Instead, Golden State is reportedly exploring trades to utilize his $20 million cap figure, as his contract is essentially an expiring deal with only the $3 million guarantee for next season. CBS Sports analyst Sam Quinn outlined potential trade destinations.
Warriors' Early Success
Despite Porziņģis' absence, the Warriors have started the season 6-3, placing seventh in the Western Conference. Rookie big man Yaxel Lendeborg has stepped up, averaging 21 points, 7.1 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.1 steals over nine games while shooting 49.2% from the field and 39.6% from three-point range.
