Key Takeaways
- Kristaps Porzingis is stepping away from basketball to prioritize his health after his body “didn't respond the way I anticipated,” but he hasn’t announced his retirement.
- The Warriors reportedly stopped paying his $20 million salary for “not rendering services,” costing him roughly $218,341 per missed game; neither Porzingis nor the players’ union plans to challenge the decision.
- Porzingis signed a two-year, $40 million extension in June after playing 15 games for Golden State and previously disclosed a POTS diagnosis, though neither he nor the team has identified the cause of his current absence.
Kristaps Porzingis is stepping away from basketball as the Golden State Warriors center continues to deal with health concerns and an ongoing contract dispute with the organization.
On Friday, the 31-year-old announced his decision in a statement shared on X, saying his body hasn’t responded as he expected while preparing for the NBA season.
"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 wrote.
"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."
Although Porzingis didn't officially announce his retirement, his statement raises serious questions about whether he'll return to the NBA.
The former All-Star also acknowledged his situation with Golden State, saying he wants "to show the utmost respect for the Golden State Warriors and work with them to find a solution that makes sense."
His announcement comes just days after ESPN's Shams Charania and Anthony Slater reported that the Warriors had stopped paying Porzingis his $20 million salary after determining he was "not rendering services."
Under the NBA's collective bargaining agreement, Golden State can withhold portions of his salary for missed games, reportedly costing Porzingis approximately $218,341 per game.
Neither Porzingis nor the National Basketball Players Association reportedly intends to challenge the team's decision.
Porzingis joined the Warriors in February after being traded from the Atlanta Hawks in a deal involving Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield. He appeared in 15 games for Golden State before signing a two-year, $40 million extension in June.
However, health issues have continued to affect his availability. Porzingis previously discussed being diagnosed with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) following a respiratory illness during his time with the Boston Celtics.
Neither Porzingis nor the Warriors has publicly identified a specific condition responsible for his current absence.
