Golden State Warriors center Kristaps Porzingis last suited up for a game in April 2026, and that may very well have been the last time he will see a basketball court.
Porzingis announced on Friday that he’s stepping away from basketball for the time being to prioritize his health. He has dealt with an unspecified illness for two years, dating back to his time with the Boston Celtics.
Porzingis did not label this as a retirement, though that seems to be the most probable outcome. He posted a note on social media acknowledging his health and that the inability to perform up to his usual standards given his condition is leading him to make this decision.
“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,” he wrote on X.
“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.”
Golden State acquired Porzingis in a trade with the Atlanta Hawks in February, and he was in the final year of his contract at the time. Over 15 games with Golden State last season, he averaged 16.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks. Then in the summer, he re-signed with the Warriors on a two-year deal.
However, just before Golden State’s first practice, Porzingis told the organization that his body wasn’t ready and he wouldn’t be reporting to the team’s facility. He has mostly been away from the Warriors since then, and as a result, the team has not been paying him.
When a player is injured or sick, the team normally still pays. If that’s not the case, then the NBA Players Association (NBPA) steps in on the player’s behalf. In this case, the NBPA has not intervened, nor has Porzingis’s camp, as neither side has contested the Warriors’ decision to not pay. That’s a strong indication that Porzingis stepping away will eventually lead to a retirement announcement.
Before then, Porzingis stated he intends to work with the Warriors on an outcome that benefits the team.
“I’m thankful to my family and close ones for always being there,” he said. “Much appreciation to all of you for the support.”
The Warriors could use Porzingis’s contract as a trade chip, as the second year of his contract only has $3 million guaranteed. Thus, a possible scenario is Golden State trading Porzingis for a young player on a longer contract. Golden State would benefit in getting a rotation player it could utilize right away, while the other team would get cap room from shedding Porzingis’s contract, either via buyout or simply only having to pay the $3 million guarantee for the 2027–28 season.
The Golden State Warriors have stayed afloat without Porzingis and have a 6–3 record through nine games. The team has used a lot of small-ball lineups without the 7-foot-3 Latvian, as no one else on the roster is taller than 6-foot-10. He is one of three notable players on Golden State’s roster to not play a single minute this season, though the other two are expected to eventually return.
Six-time All-Star Jimmy Butler has not played since tearing his ACL in January. He is expected to return to game action roughly one year after the injury, while wing Moses Moody could be back on the court by the end of this year. He ruptured his patellar tendon in March.
Porzingis was the No. 4 overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, becoming the third Latvian-born player in league history. He spent his first three years with the New York Knicks then missed the entire 2018–19 season due to a torn ACL. He was then traded to the Dallas Mavericks and has since played for the Washington Wizards, Boston Celtics, Atlanta Hawks, and the Warriors. Porzingis is a one-time All-Star (2018) and owns a championship ring, courtesy of his time with the 2024 Celtics.
Over 533 regular season games, Porzingis has averaged 19.5 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks. He’s also known for being a stretch-center, as he’s a 36.4 percent shooter from downtown over his career. Along with Victor Wembanyama and Jaren Jackson Jr., Porzingis is one of three players in NBA history to average at least 1.5 blocks and 1.5 3-pointers per game.
