Golden State Warriors big man Kristaps Porziņģis just announced Friday he’s stepping away from basketball, making the tough decision to “prioritize my health and step away from the game I love” because of ongoing mysterious health issues. This isn’t just a tough break for the Warriors; reports earlier this week already indicated the team is withholding payments from him. Porziņģis hasn’t even played a game for the Warriors this season, which is a major blow after he signed a two-year, $40 million deal with them in free agency this summer.
The Big Man’s Statement and Contract Fallout
This whole situation is a gut punch, both for Porziņģis and Golden State. He’s been really candid about what’s going on, saying he was “really looking forward to running it with this group” but as he “ramped up, my body didn’t respond the way I anticipated.” He sounds like he knows what it takes to play at the highest level, admitting, “I’m not where I want to be to perform at the level that I expect from myself.” It’s clear he’s trying to do right by the Warriors too, stating he wants to “show the utmost respect for the Golden State Warriors and work with them to find a solution that makes sense.”
The financial side of this is pretty wild. That two-year, $40 million deal he inked this summer? The second year of it only has a $3 million guarantee. It’s unclear if, or when, the 31-year-old Porziņģis will ever return to the court.
A Career Defined by Health Woes
Honestly, Porziņģis’ career has been a rollercoaster of health problems. Since he was drafted No. 4 overall by the Knicks back in 2015, he’s played more than 57 games in a season only three times. We’re talking major injuries here, like a torn ACL that wiped out his entire 2018-19 season.
But recently, it’s been this mysterious illness that’s been limiting him. It first popped up when he was with Boston during the 2024-25 season. He’s been dealing with extreme fatigue and was eventually diagnosed with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, or POTS. That’s a real mouthful, but basically, it means rapid changes in heart rate when you stand up, which can lead to exhaustion and dizziness. He even described it himself ahead of last season, saying, “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.”
He’s been away from the Warriors since late September and has only played 74 games over the last three seasons, split between the Celtics, Atlanta Hawks, and Golden State. Back in mid-October, he even had to release a statement shutting down wild rumors that he had been diagnosed with HIV or AIDS. At that point, the Warriors had already said he was out indefinitely. He wrote, “I’m working with doctors and experts to figure out how to be fully back to good health asap. Honestly, I’m getting better and better. I just have to stay patient, and I believe I’ll be feeling great again soon.” For now, though, he’s stepping away completely, leaving a huge question mark over his future and the Warriors’ plans.
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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