Kristaps Porzingis Steps Away From NBA and Warriors to Prioritize Health

Stepping away from the court

November 7, 2026 · 5:15 a.m. Central

Golden State Warriors center Kristaps Porziņģis announced he is stepping away indefinitely from basketball to prioritize his health, bringing an unexpected halt to his first season with the franchise.

The 31-year-old Latvian big man signed a two-year, $40 million contract with Golden State in June but had yet to play in a game this season. In a statement released Friday on X, Porziņģis explained that his body did not respond as expected during his physical ramp-up.

“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 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.”

Salary withholding and a moving locker room

Porziņģis’s decision follows growing tension behind the scenes. Reporting earlier this week revealed that the Warriors had begun withholding his game-by-game salary payments under league rules covering players who fail to render services.

In an interview with Sam Amick of The Athletic, veteran forward Draymond Green addressed the locker room’s perspective bluntly, emphasizing that the team could not afford to dwell on the center’s absence.

“In our minds, we've moved forward with the players that we have here,” Green said. “Does everyone in here think he can help us? Of course... But I don't think anyone in here is sitting around waiting on him to walk through that door. Everybody's moved on in their mindset... You can't sit and worry about spoiled milk.”

Chronic health hurdles and future plans

Neither Porziņģis nor the Warriors specified the medical condition currently keeping him sidelined. However, Porziņģis has previously managed non-injury medical conditions, including postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), an autonomic nerve disorder that affects circulation and heart rate.

Porziņģis stopped short of announcing a formal retirement. He noted in his statement that he plans to work cooperatively with Golden State management to determine a resolution that respects the organization and his own well-being.

Timeline of events

• June 2026: Porziņģis signs a two-year, $40 million contract with Golden State.
• October 2026: Sidelined throughout training camp and early regular-season contests as the team begins withholding per-game salary.
• November 6, 2026: Porziņģis publishes his statement on X announcing an indefinite hiatus from basketball.

Where the Warriors play

The star marks the Chase Center in San Francisco, home arena of the Golden State Warriors.

Porziņģis’s statement on X

Kristaps Porziņģis posted his official message directly on his verified X account.

Read Kristaps Porziņģis’s statement on X

Open Kristaps Porziņģis on X if the embed does not load.

Sources and reporting notes

The Athletic · San Francisco Chronicle · ESPN · Sports Illustrated · NBC Sports · Kristaps Porziņģis on X.

Hero and thumbnail: default Sports section branding. Direct quotes corroborated via player statement and Athletic interview.