Kristaps Porzingis signed a two-year, $40 million extension to stay with the Golden State Warriors, a deal that was supposed to secure their frontcourt for the 2026-27 season. The expectation was a fully healthy Porzingis, ready to roll. But hold up, because the dude got sidelined during training camp with an illness, and honestly, the whole situation is getting kinda wild.
Teammates Are Just as Stumped as We Are
Since the Warriors got back to California, everyone’s been trying to figure out what’s up with Porzingis. And it sounds like nobody has a clue. Al Horford, a teammate who’s actually played with Porzingis in Boston (and they even won a championship together, so you know they’re close), dropped a bombshell. He told the media he hasn’t even seen or spoken to Porzingis. Think about that: a veteran teammate, a guy who knows him well, is completely in the dark. Horford put it plainly: “We just don’t have much information. So I think for us it’s just hoping he gets right, gets better.” That’s not exactly a confidence booster, is it?
Coach Kerr Has Seen Nothing, But Hopes He’s “Around Now”
Even head coach Steve Kerr admitted he hasn’t seen the Latvian big man either. I mean, what’s going on? You’d think the coach would have some intel, right? Kerr did try to sound a bit more optimistic though, saying, “I think he’ll be around now,” mainly because the team is finally back from Hawaii. So, no sightings yet, but maybe now that they’re home, things will change? Last season, Porzingis played 15 games for Golden State, averaging a solid 16.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 0.6 steals, and 1.1 blocks in 23.7 minutes per game. Those are numbers that show what he can do when he’s on the court. If he’s healthy, this guy could totally transform the Warriors’ frontcourt. But “if healthy” is the operative phrase here.
So, what’s next for the Warriors? They need their big man on the floor, especially after committing that $40 million. We’re all just hoping Porzingis gets back soon and gets healthy. The whole league is watching to see when this mystery finally gets solved.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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