Golden State Warriors center Kristaps Porziņģis, who has not been with the team as he addresses long-term health concerns, announced he will step away from basketball.
“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 wrote Friday, Nov. 6 in a statement posted to social media.
“I’m doing good, but I know what it takes, and I’m not where I want to be to perform at the level that I expect from myself. At this point, I’ve made the decision to prioritize my health and step away from the game I love.”
It’s worth noting that Porziņģis didn’t outright mention retirement in the statement, which could potentially leave a return to the sport down the road,
should his health improve.
Porziņģis, 31, has been dealing with an undisclosed illness that has prevented him from joining the Warriors. He had missed all of training camp in late September and has been away from the team. Warriors coach Steve Kerr said last month that Porziņģis would be in the team facility for a check-in with Golden State’s sports medicine and performance team.
Previously, stretching back to Porziņģis’ final season with the Celtics in 2024-25, he had expressed frustrations over repeated absences that were caused from an undiagnosed condition that prevented him from having the energy and stamina to play.
Eventually, Porziņģis disclosed that he was dealing with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) autoimmune symptoms, though he has not offered specific updates in recent months.
— Kristaps Porzingis (@kporzee) November 6, 2026
The Celtics traded Porziņģis to the Hawks in June 2025. Just eight months later, Atlanta then shipped Porziņģis in a separate deal to the Warriors, where he played only 15 games for the team.
ESPN reported Wednesday, Nov. 4 that Porziņģis was not being paid his $20 million salary for failing to render services to the team.
A one-time All-Star, Porziņģis is known for stretching the floor with his shooting range, while providing a rim-protecting presence on the other end. Across his 10-year career, Porziņģis has averaged 19.5 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game in 533 appearances.
“In this situation, I want to show the utmost respect for the Golden State Warriors and work with them to find a solution that makes sense,” Porziņģis continued in his statement. “I’m thankful to my family and close ones for always being there. Much appreciation to all of you for the support. Onwards and upwards.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Warriors' Kristaps Porzingis issues update on his health, NBA future
