Warriors Stop Paying Kristaps Porzingis His 20 Million Dollar Salary
The Golden State Warriors have stopped delivering the semimonthly payments on veteran center Kristaps Porzingis and his 20 million dollar salary. League sources told ESPN that the team rules the currently absent 31-year-old center is not rendering his services. Porzingis has been away from the team since the eve of training camp, left the facility, and has not returned. The team changed his official status from out with general illness to not with team. The news was reported by Shams Charania and Anthony Slater on Wednesday, November 4, 2026. Porzingis is not actively disputing the withheld payments, and the players association has no plan to dispute them either, league sources said.
Quick Facts
| Detail | What We Know |
|---|---|
| Player | Kristaps Porzingis, 31-year-old center |
| Team | Golden State Warriors |
| Salary | 20 million dollars this season |
| Payments | Semimonthly payments stopped by the team |
| Reason given | Team rules he is not rendering his services |
| Team status | Changed from out with general illness to not with team |
| Fine per missed game | 218,341 dollars, or 1/91.6th of salary |
| Full season value | About 17.9 million dollars over 82 games |
| Contract | Two-year, 40 million dollar extension signed this summer |
| Second season guarantee | Only 3 million dollars guaranteed |
| Trade deadline | February 11 |
| Team record | Five straight wins after an 0-3 start |
What Happened With the Payments
The Warriors are not delivering the semimonthly payments on Porzingis and his 20 million dollar salary, according to league sources who spoke to ESPN. The report came from Shams Charania and Anthony Slater on Wednesday, November 4, 2026. The team takes the position that the center is not rendering his services, and that is the basis for holding back the money. This is a rare and serious step for a team to take with a veteran player on a large contract.
Porzingis has been away from the team since the eve of training camp. He left the facility and has not returned. A player who is away from the team cannot practice, cannot travel with the group, and cannot play in games. The Warriors have now changed how they describe his situation in official terms. His status moved from out with general illness to not with team.
The team has no current plans to void the contract. That detail is important, because voiding a contract would end the deal entirely. Instead, the Warriors are keeping the contract in place while they hold back pay. General manager Mike Dunleavy is still actively pursuing trade avenues using the contract. A contract worth 20 million dollars this season can be used in a trade, even when the player attached to it is not on the court. The team wants to keep that flexibility open through the February 11 deadline.
Porzingis is not actively disputing the withheld payments, league sources said. The players association has no plan to dispute them either. That part of the report stands out. In most pay disputes, the player or the union would push back right away. Here, neither side has moved to challenge the team so far. That may change later, but for now the withholding stands without a formal fight.
The Health Issue Behind the Absence
The Warriors announced on October 14 that Porzingis would be sidelined indefinitely due to an undisclosed health issue. That announcement came before the regular season. An indefinite absence gives no return date and leaves fans and teammates unsure when, or if, the player will be back.
Porzingis said in 2025 that he was diagnosed with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, known as POTS. POTS is a nervous system disorder that can affect heart rate and blood flow. It can make standing up and staying active harder for some people. The condition varies from person to person, and its effects can change over time. This is general information only, and it is not a diagnosis of the current situation. Readers should talk to their own doctor about any health condition or concern.
The gap between the October 14 announcement and the November 4 report on the withheld pay is about three weeks. During that time, the team moved from describing a health absence to describing a player who is not with the team.
How the Money Works: Fines, Cap, and Tax
The fine for failing to render services is 1/91.6th of salary per missed game, according to ESPN and Bobby Marks. For Porzingis, that comes to 218,341 dollars a game. Over a full 82-game schedule, that figure adds up to about 17.9 million dollars. Those numbers show how fast the money at stake grows when a player misses games. Each missed game carries a clear dollar figure, and a full season of missed games would cover nearly all of the 20 million dollar salary.
The full salary still counts against the salary cap and the tax aprons. That is a key point for the Warriors. Even though the team is not paying the money right now, the contract still sits on the books for cap purposes. The team does not get cap relief just because the pay is withheld.
The Warriors are 20.4 million dollars over the luxury tax and roughly 300,000 dollars below the second apron. Being over the luxury tax means the team pays extra on top of its payroll. Sitting just below the second apron means the team has very little room before it hits a harder set of limits. The second apron brings real limits on trades and roster moves. Staying below it, even by a small margin, keeps more options open.
What This Means for the Warriors on the Court
The Warriors have won five straight games after an 0-3 start. That run shows the team has found a way to win without Porzingis on the floor. An 0-3 start is a rough way to open a season, and it puts pressure on a team right away. Five straight wins after that start change the mood. The team is playing well, and the record reflects it. The winning run does not erase the Porzingis situation, but it does show that the roster as it stands can compete.
Losing a veteran center for a long stretch would hurt most teams. Centers bring size, rebounding, and rim protection, and Porzingis also brings shooting range for a big man. Without him, other players have to fill those gaps. The five-game winning streak suggests the group has adjusted, at least for now.
The trade deadline on February 11 gives the team a clear date to work toward. Dunleavy is still actively pursuing trade avenues using the contract. A trade could bring back a player who can help on the court, or it could bring back picks or younger players. It could also help the team manage the tax bill.
What Could Happen Next
The most likely next step is more trade talk. Dunleavy is still actively pursuing trade avenues, and the February 11 deadline is the natural point for a deal. A trade would move the contract to another team and give the Warriors something back. The low guarantee in the second season, only 3 million dollars, makes the deal more workable for a team that might take it on. That team would get a veteran center with size and shooting, if he is healthy enough to play.
Another path is that the situation stays as it is for a while. The team keeps holding back pay, Porzingis stays away, and nothing changes until the deadline gets closer. That path is possible, but it leaves the cap and tax questions open. The full salary still counts against the cap, so the team would keep carrying that weight.
A third path is a return. Porzingis could come back to the team, and the two sides could work out a way forward. That would require the health issue to be resolved enough for him to rejoin the group, and it would require the team and the player to agree on the terms of a return. The report says he left the facility and has not returned, and the team has changed his status to not with team. A return would be a big shift from where things stand now.
A formal dispute is also possible, even though neither Porzingis nor the players association has moved to challenge the withheld pay so far. That could change if the team takes a further step, or if the player decides the withholding is not fair.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the Warriors stop paying Kristaps Porzingis?
The team rules that Porzingis is not rendering his services. He has been away from the team since the eve of training camp, left the facility, and has not returned. League sources told ESPN that the Warriors are not delivering the semimonthly payments on his 20 million dollar salary. The team changed his official status from out with general illness to not with team.
How much money is at stake per game?
The fine for failing to render services is 1/91.6th of salary per missed game, which comes to 218,341 dollars a game for Porzingis. Over a full 82-game schedule, that adds up to about 17.9 million dollars. The full salary still counts against the salary cap and the tax aprons, even while the pay is withheld.
Is Porzingis disputing the withheld pay?
No, not at this time. League sources said Porzingis is not actively disputing the withheld payments, and the players association has no plan to dispute them either. That could change later, but for now there is no formal challenge to the team and its decision.
Will the Warriors trade Porzingis?
That is a real option. General manager Mike Dunleavy is still actively pursuing trade avenues using the contract, and the team wants to keep trade flexibility through the February 11 deadline. The team has no current plans to void the contract. The deal is a two-year, 40 million dollar extension with only 3 million dollars guaranteed in the second season, which makes it easier to move.
For more on the league this week, read about the big night from Victor Wembanyama and the Lakers win led by Luka Doncic. You can also catch up on the latest NBA results from around the league.
Sources
Final Thoughts
The Warriors stopping pay on a 20 million dollar salary is a rare and serious move. It tells us the team sees this as more than a normal injury absence. Porzingis has been away since the eve of training camp, he left the facility and has not returned, and the team has now changed his status to not with team. The money at stake is large, with 218,341 dollars per missed game and about 17.9 million dollars over a full season.
At the same time, the Warriors are winning. Five straight wins after an 0-3 start show the group can compete without him. The front office is working the trade market, with Mike Dunleavy pursuing avenues using the contract and keeping flexibility through February 11. The low guarantee in the second season, only 3 million dollars, gives the team room to move. What happens next will depend on trade talks, on whether Porzingis returns, and on whether anyone formally disputes the withheld pay. The February deadline will be the next big moment to watch.
