Warriors' Porzingis Steps Away From Basketball, Reportedly Loses Pay

Golden State Warriors center Kristaps Porzingis announced Friday that he is stepping away from basketball to focus on his health, after his body did not respond as he expected while he ramped up for the season. He has not played for the Warriors this season.

ESPN's Shams Charania reported, citing league sources, that the team has stopped making the semimonthly payments on Porzingis' $20 million salary, according to Fox News. The report said Porzingis is not actively disputing that, and the NBA Players' Association does not plan to challenge it.

What Porzingis said

In a statement posted on X, Porzingis said he had looked forward to playing with this group but that his body had not responded the way he anticipated. He said he is doing well but is not at the level he expects of himself, so he decided to prioritize his health and "step away from the game I love."

He added that he wants to show respect for the Warriors and work with them on a solution that makes sense. He also thanked his family and supporters. The Guardian noted that the 31-year-old did not make clear whether he will return to playing.

What is known about the health issue

Porzingis has not named his condition in his statement, and the Guardian described the issue as undisclosed. Fox News reported that he is reportedly dealing with recurring symptoms tied to Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, known as POTS, which can cause dizziness and fatigue. Porzingis has not confirmed that diagnosis in the statements quoted by either outlet.

In an Oct. 14 post on X, he addressed online speculation about his health. He wrote that he was working with doctors and experts to get back to full health as soon as possible and that he was getting better. He said he needed to stay patient.

How the situation developed

According to the Guardian, the problem appears to go back to last season, when Porzingis missed significant time after Golden State acquired him in a trade with Atlanta. The Warriors expected him to be ready for this season after signing him to a two-year, $40 million contract in late June. Fox News described that deal as an extension.

His status became uncertain in late September, the Guardian reported, when the team said he would be out indefinitely and would not travel with the team to Hawaii for training camp. Fox News said he stepped away from the team the day before camp began.

On Oct. 14, the team said he would spend time with staff and teammates in some capacity while remaining out indefinitely. That followed a meeting a day earlier with general manager Mike Dunleavy and Dr. Rick Celebrini, the team's vice president of player health and performance. A week later, the Warriors reversed course and said Porzingis would not be with the team for "the immediate future." Coach Steve Kerr offered no further detail before the season opener at the Los Angeles Lakers, the Guardian reported.

What this means for Porzingis and the Warriors

For Porzingis, the immediate effect is financial, if ESPN's report is accurate. The payments on his $20 million salary have reportedly stopped, and neither he nor the players' union is expected to push back. The Warriors have not been quoted in the sources on the matter.

For the team, the center they signed to a two-year, $40 million deal will not be available for the foreseeable future, according to Fox News. Porzingis said he wants to work with the club to find a solution but did not describe what that might involve.

His availability has been a recurring issue. Fox News reported that he appeared in 74 total games over the past two seasons while dealing with health problems. The same report said he has earned more than $253 million in the NBA since debuting with the New York Knicks in 2015. The Guardian noted that he was the fourth overall pick in the 2015 draft and is now on his sixth team in 11 seasons.

What remains unclear

Porzingis did not say when or whether he might return, and he has not confirmed the reported diagnosis. Neither source includes a response from the Warriors to his announcement or to the report on his pay. The team and Porzingis have said only that they will work toward a resolution.

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Around Prague, based on reporting by Fox News, The Guardian