Porziņģis steps away from basketball over undisclosed health issue
Seven Lights
Kristaps Porziņģis announced Friday that he is stepping away from basketball to deal with a health issue he did not disclose, leaving the Golden State Warriors less than five months into a two-year, $40 million contract.
“As I ramped up, my body didn’t respond the way I expected,” the 31-year-old forward said in a statement posted to X. “I’ve decided to prioritize my health and step away from a game I love.” The Warriors and the player have not said whether he intends to return.
Porziņģis’ status had been uncertain since late September, when the Warriors announced he would be out indefinitely, and he did not travel with the team to Hawaii for training camp. On Oct. 14 the team said he would spend time with staff and teammates in some capacity while remaining sidelined, after he met with general manager Mike Dunleavy and Dr. Rick Celebrini, the vice-president of player health and performance. The Warriors then reversed course a week later, saying he would not be with the team “for the immediate future,” with coach Steve Kerr offering no further detail ahead of the season opener at the Los Angeles Lakers.
“I haven’t been able to get myself physically and mentally to the place I want to be to perform at the level I expect from myself,” Porziņģis said. He closed his message thanking his family and supporters and writing: “Onwards and upwards.”
Porziņģis was drafted fourth overall by the New York Knicks in 2015 and played for six teams across 11 seasons before a trade brought him to Golden State from Atlanta last season.
The Warriors open the season next week without their starting center, a gap that reshapes their rotation and figures in trade considerations before the February deadline.
Whether the retirement becomes permanent will depend on further medical information the player has not made public. The next word is expected from Porziņģis himself.