Just nine days out from their regular season opener against the Los Angeles Lakers on October 21, the Golden State Warriors are still without big man Kristaps Porziņģis. Dude’s sidelined with a mysterious illness, and honestly, nobody really knows when he’ll be back on the court. It’s getting pretty concerning, especially after they just re-signed him for a cool two-year, $40 million this offseason.
What’s Actually Going On With KP? The Silence Is Deafening
So, this isn’t exactly new news, which might be the real problem. Porziņģis has been out indefinitely since September, even before their training camp kicked off in Hawaii. He hasn’t seen a single minute of action in any of the team’s four preseason games, nor has he even been a participant in training camp. And let’s be real, that’s not exactly inspiring confidence heading into the season.
Back in September, GM Mike Dunleavy tried to play it cool, saying, “I’m not marking him down as being out to start the season or anything like that. He’s just not available this week. … Disappointed that he won’t be out there tomorrow, but it’s early, so don’t want to overreact to anything.” Fast forward to October 8, and Coach Steve Kerr basically had no new intel, just telling reporters, “He is not here today. We’ve obviously been busy in Hawaii and Portland, so we just came in and worked out the vets, had a really good practice. I’ll reach out to KP today and check in with him, but nothing new to report.” He did say he’d texted KP and the guy seemed “doing OK,” but “doing OK” and “playing basketball” are two wildly different things, aren’t they? The big question hanging over everything is this: Porziņģis hasn’t even talked to the media since April, and neither he nor the Warriors have given us any insight into what this current illness even is, or if it’s connected to his past health issues.
KP’s Injury History Is a Red Flag the Warriors Can’t Ignore
This isn’t just some random bug, either. Porziņģis has a track record, and it’s not a good one when it comes to staying healthy. The Warriors traded for him at the deadline last season, sending Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield to the Atlanta Hawks. In the 15 games he actually played after that move, he put up 16.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.1 blocks, shooting 43.3% from the field and only 31.1% from three-point range. Not exactly star numbers for a guy they just committed $40 million to.
He was the No. 4 overall pick, but seriously, the dude has rarely been able to stay on the court in his NBA career. We’re talking major knee issues, including a torn ACL that wiped out his entire 2018-19 season. Get this: he’s hit the 65-game mark only three times in ten seasons. And it’s getting worse, too, playing 57, 42, and then just 32 games in his last three seasons for the Celtics, Hawks, and Warriors, respectively.
And then there’s the postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, or POTS, he was diagnosed with near the end of his final season in Boston in 2025. That’s some serious stuff, characterized by rapid changes in heart rate, exhaustion, and dizziness. Porziņģis himself even admitted, “You know how people say, ‘Oh, I’m so fatigued.’ I’ve never used those words. I don’t even like to speak in those terms, but I really was like that. At that time, I could just lay on the couch and be a house cat.” You gotta wonder, is that “house cat” feeling back? Because the Warriors certainly aren’t telling us.
With the regular season opener against the Lakers hitting the calendar on October 21, the clock is absolutely ticking for the Warriors. They’ve got a $40 million investment in a player who has barely been available, whose health history is a serious concern, and who is now sidelined with a mystery illness. This isn’t just about missing a few preseason games; this is about a core piece of their team, and it casts a massive shadow over their early season outlook. You gotta hope for some real answers soon, because right now, Golden State looks like they’re walking into the season with a huge question mark at a critical position.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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