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Porzingis Steps Away From NBA to Focus on Health
· Confirmed
In Short: Golden State Warriors center Kristaps Porzingis announced Friday that he is stepping away from basketball to prioritize his health, according to Bakersfield.com and ClutchPoints.
Golden State Warriors center Kristaps Porzingis announced Friday that he is stepping away from basketball to prioritize his health, according to Bakersfield.com and ClutchPoints. Porzingis did not specify the nature of his health issues, but he expressed his intention to work with the team to find a solution that makes sense.
Bakersfield.com and Eagle-Tribune reported that Porzingis signed a two-year, $40 million contract with the Warriors in late June, but he has been out indefinitely due to health issues since late September. The Warriors had stopped paying Porzingis his $20 million salary, considering him to be “not rendering services.”
Porzingis, in a statement posted on his X account, said, “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.” He added, “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.”
Porzingis did not announce that he is retiring but rather stepping away to focus on his health while also allowing the Warriors to continue exploring ways to maximize his current contract.
Porzingis, a key member of Boston’s 2023-24 NBA championship team, has battled medical issues since February 2025. Over 99 regular-season appearances as a Celtic, Porzingis averaged 19.8 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game.
Porzingis’ status has been uncertain since late September, when the Warriors announced he would be out indefinitely with a health issue and not travel with the team to Hawaii for training camp. The team’s decision to withhold payments comes after news that Porzingis is considering stepping away from basketball.
Porzingis’ announcement raises questions about his future in the sport, as he steps away from basketball barely one year after signing a lucrative contract with the Warriors. The team’s decision to withhold payments and explore trade options highlights the challenges faced by both players and teams when health issues arise.
Porzingis’ decision to prioritize his health underscores the importance of player well-being in the NBA, as teams and players navigate the complexities of long-term contracts and health issues.
Porzingis’ statement and the team’s actions reflect the ongoing challenges in balancing player health and contractual obligations in the NBA.
Porzingis’ announcement and the team’s actions highlight the complexities of player health and contractual obligations in the NBA. The team’s decision to withhold payments and explore trade options underscores the financial and performance pressures faced by both players and teams when health issues arise.
Background
STAT reporters are closely watching health care issues as the midterms approach, focusing on industry trends and consumer impact.
As the midterms approach, health care affordability and economic concerns are taking center stage, with voters increasingly focused on these issues.
What's confirmed
- Golden State Warriors center Kristaps Porzingis announced he is stepping away from basketball to prioritize his health due to an undisclosed matter.
- The Warriors, however, fully anticipated Porzingis to be ready for this season after signing him to a two-year, $40 million contract in late June.
- Porzingis did not reveal the nature of the issue in a message posted on his X account, and the 31-year-old didn’t make it clear as to whether he’ll resume playing.
- FILE - Golden State Warriors center Kristaps Porzingis warms up before an NBA basketball game against the Sacramento Kings, April 10, 2026, in Sacramento, Calif.
- Golden State Warriors center Kristaps Porziņģis announced that he's stepping away from the team in a statement posted on social media on Friday.
- Former Celtics big man Kristaps Porzingis on Friday announced he is stepping away from basketball to focus on his health.
- Golden State Warriors big man Kristaps Porzingis announced Friday that he has "made the decision to prioritize my health and step away from the game I love" as he continues to deal with mysterious health issues.
- Porzingis signed a two-year, $40 million contract extension with the Warriors in late June and said in the statement that he intended to play this season but that his body didn't respond as he tried to ramp it up for training camp.
- Porzingis’ status has been uncertain since late September, when the Warriors announced he would be out indefinitely with a health issue and not travel with the team to Hawaii for training camp.
- On Oct. 14, the team said the Porzingis would spend time with staff and teammates in some capacity while still out indefinitely after he met with general manager Mike Dunleavy and Vice President of Player Health and Performance Dr. Rick Celebrini a day earlier.
What's still developing
- He was limited by health issues following the change of scenery, as he only appeared in 15 games for the Warriors down the stretch of the 2025-26 season.
- Porzingis has only $3 million guaranteed on his deal next season, and the expectation is that he'd be open to a post-trade buyout that would save a team more than that.
- "It hit me and it hit me like a truck," Porzingis told The Athletic at the time.
Sources
- Bakersfield.com link
- Bleacher Report link
- Bostonherald link
- CBS Sports link
- ClutchPoints link
- Complex link
- Eagle-Tribune link
- Espn link
- Terre Haute Tribune-Star link
- The Daily Gazette link
- The Tribune-Democrat link
- Fadeawayworld link
- Bleacherreport link
- Goldenstateofmind link
- Sportsnet link
- Sfgate link
- Chaz NBA — video link