Kristaps Porzingis Steps Away From Basketball to Prioritize His Health

Kristaps Porzingis is stepping away from basketball to prioritize his health. The Golden State Warriors center announced the decision on Friday afternoon, November 6, 2026, in a statement posted on social media. He has not played a game this season, and he has been away from the team since training camp. The news ended weeks of waiting for the Warriors and their fans, who had hoped to see the 7-foot-2 center on the court this season.

Porzingis did not announce a retirement. He said he wants to work with the Warriors to find a solution that makes sense, and he left the door open for what comes next. Reports say he is expected to be traded within 30 to 40 days, and he remains eligible to be moved. For now, though, the focus is on his health, and the player himself made that clear in his own words.

Quick Facts

What Porzingis Said in His Own Words

Porzingis shared his decision in a statement he posted on social media on Friday afternoon, and his words were honest and direct. He said he had been looking forward to the season and to playing with his teammates, but his body did not respond the way he had hoped when he started to ramp up his work. He did the work, he tried to get ready, and the progress he needed did not come. NBC Sports published the story at 4:30 PM ET on Friday, and Reuters, USA Today and ClutchPoints confirmed it the same day.

“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. The line shows how much he wanted to be part of this team. The Warriors built their plans around a healthy Porzingis, and he wanted to be on the court with them.

He went on to explain that he is doing well in general, but that he is not where he needs to be to play at the level he expects from himself. “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 wrote.

The Health Battle Behind the Decision

Porzingis deals with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, known as POTS, an autoimmune condition that affects how the body manages blood flow and heart rate when a person stands up. The condition first became a real issue late in the 2024-25 season, when he was with the Boston Celtics, and it has flared up again since then.

He issued a statement on October 14 saying he was improving, but progress has since stalled. He missed all of training camp in late September and has been away from the team. On October 21, the Warriors said he would not be with the team for “the immediate future.”

The details of a medical condition belong to the player and his doctors. Porzingis chose to share the name of his condition and the fact that his body did not respond as he hoped. If you have a health concern of your own, talk to your own doctor about it.

From Boston Champion to Golden State Uncertainty

Porzingis is 31 years old, a 7-foot-2 center from Latvia, and he has had a career full of big moments. He helped the Boston Celtics win the 2024 NBA title, a high point that showed what he can do when he is healthy and in the right role. He gave Boston size, shooting, and shot blocking, and he was a key part of a championship team. Fans in Boston still remember that run, and it remains the best chapter of his career so far.

After Boston, he was traded to Atlanta in 2025, and then to the Warriors in February 2026. The move to Golden State was meant to give him a fresh start with a team that knows how to win, and the Warriors hoped he would be a big piece of their frontcourt. He played 15 games for Golden State last season, averaging 16.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.1 blocks in 23.7 minutes per game. Those numbers showed that he could still produce at a high level when he was on the floor.

The Warriors believed in him enough to sign him to a two-year, 40 million dollar contract extension in June 2026. That deal was a sign of trust. The team was saying it believed Porzingis could be part of its future, and it was willing to pay him like a key player. The extension made the news on Friday even harder for the team, because it showed how much had been invested in a player who has now stepped away.

What happens next for Porzingis is an open question. ClutchPoints reported he is expected to be traded within 30 to 40 days, and he remains eligible to be traded. For now, the focus is on his health, and the basketball business will follow in its own time. Nobody should guess at a return date, because no such date has been given.

The Salary Dispute That Came First

The announcement on Friday did not come out of nowhere. Just two days earlier, on Wednesday, November 4, ESPN reported that the Warriors have been withholding his 20 million dollar salary for this season, saying he was failing to render services. The team considered his absence unexcused. That report changed the tone of the story, because it showed that the team and the player were not on the same page about his absence.

Readers can also read our report on the Warriors stopping Porzingis 20 million dollar salary payments, which covered the ESPN report and the background to the dispute. The two stories are linked, and the salary question will not go away just because Porzingis has now stepped away. The team and the player still need to find a solution that makes sense, as Porzingis put it, and the money is part of that conversation.

How the Warriors Keep Winning Without Him

One of the most striking parts of this story is how well the Warriors have played without Porzingis. The team is 6-3 and has won six straight games after starting the season 0-3. The turnaround has been one of the early stories of the NBA season, and it has happened with Porzingis nowhere near the court. The team found its form, won game after game, and moved on without the player it had planned to build around.

The latest win came on Thursday night, November 5, when the Warriors beat the Miami Heat 120-100. The game was also notable because Klay Thompson returned to Chase Center, and the night had an emotional edge to it. The Warriors handled the occasion well, won by 20 points, and kept their winning run going. Readers can also read our report on the Warriors beating the Heat 120-100 as Klay Thompson returned to Chase Center, which covered the game in full.

Thursday night was a busy night around the league, and other teams were also in action. Readers can also read our report on the Suns beating the Magic 117-104 behind Devin Booker 30 points on November 5, another result from the same night of games. The NBA season moves fast, and one night can bring a big win, a big return, and a big announcement all at once.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did Kristaps Porzingis step away from basketball?

Porzingis said he is stepping away to prioritize his health. As he ramped up his work this season, his body did not respond the way he anticipated, and he is not where he wants to be to perform at the level he expects from himself. He deals with POTS, an autoimmune condition that first became an issue late in the 2024-25 season and has flared up again.

Did Kristaps Porzingis retire from the NBA?

No, he did not announce a retirement. He said he wants to work with the Warriors to find a solution that makes sense. He remains eligible to be traded, and ClutchPoints reported he is expected to be traded within 30 to 40 days. No return date has been given, and no one should guess at one.

Has Kristaps Porzingis played for the Warriors this season?

No, he has not played a game this season. He missed all of training camp in late September and has been away from the team. On October 21, the Warriors said he would not be with the team for “the immediate future.” He said on October 14 that he was improving, but progress has since stalled.

What is the salary dispute between Porzingis and the Warriors?

ESPN reported on Wednesday, November 4 that the Warriors have been withholding his 20 million dollar salary for this season, saying he was failing to render services. The team considered his absence unexcused. Porzingis signed a two-year, 40 million dollar contract extension in June 2026, and the salary question remains part of the talks between the player and the team.

Sources

• NBC Sports: Kristaps Porzingis announces that he is stepping away from basketball
• USA Today: Kristaps Porzingis stepping away from basketball
• ClutchPoints: Kristaps Porzingis announces decision to step away from basketball
• 98.5 The River: Warriors Porzingis stepping away from basketball to prioritize health

Final Thoughts

Kristaps Porzingis stepping away from basketball is a sad moment for the player, for the Warriors, and for fans who wanted to see him play this season. He is a champion, a skilled big man, and a player who was looking forward to running it back with this group. His own words make it clear that this was not a decision he wanted to make, but one he felt he had to make. Health comes first, and a player who knows his body is making the right call when he listens to it.

For Porzingis, the road ahead is about rest, treatment, and time. Nobody knows what the next few months will bring, and nobody should pretend to know. What is known is that a 31-year-old champion put his health first, told the truth about where he stands, and left the door open for what comes next. That takes courage, and it deserves respect. Basketball will wait. Health will not.