via Stephen Lam/S.F. Chronicle
Golden State Warriors center Kristaps Porziņģis is stepping away from basketball as he focuses on his health, announcing the decision Friday, November 6.
The 7-foot-2 big man revealed that his body has not responded as anticipated while preparing for the 2026-27 NBA season, leading him to make the difficult decision to step away from the game.
“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,” Porziņģis shared.
He continued by explaining that although he is doing well, he isn’t currently where he needs to be physically to perform at the level he expects of himself.
Porziņģis also expressed his desire to work with Golden State to find a solution that makes sense for everyone involved.
The announcement comes after an extended absence from the Warriors. Porziņģis missed training camp and the beginning of the regular season because of an undisclosed health issue. The team previously announced that he would remain sidelined indefinitely.
Porziņģis has previously discussed dealing with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), a condition he revealed during his time with the Boston Celtics. However, neither Porziņģis nor Golden State has confirmed whether that condition is connected to his current health situation.
The 31-year-old joined Golden State in February 2026 and subsequently signed a two-year, $40 million contract extension during the offseason.
In 15 appearances with the Warriors last season, he averaged 16.7 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists.
Porziņģis helped the Boston Celtics capture the 2024 NBA championship and was selected as an NBA All-Star in 2018.
It remains unclear whether this is a temporary departure or the beginning of the end of his NBA career.
For now, the priority is his health.
We wish Kristaps Porziņģis the best as he navigates this difficult situation.
