Warriors center Kristaps Porzingis out indefinitely, will miss season opener
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The gist
Warriors center Kristaps Porzingis is out indefinitely with an undisclosed health issue and won't travel to the opener.
Golden State starts the season without its 7-foot-2 center and has no return timeline.
Background
Kristaps Porzingis is a 31-year-old, 7-foot-2 center for the Golden State Warriors, formerly a rising star with the New York Knicks. Golden State acquired him in a February trade that sent Jonathan Kuminga to the Atlanta Hawks, then re-signed him in late June to a two-year, $40 million deal. He has a history of health problems, including an upper respiratory virus contracted while with the Boston Celtics two seasons ago that has lingered. The Warriors have called his current issue undisclosed and are proceeding cautiously.
How it unfolded
- 2025 -26 seasonThe Warriors traded Jonathan Kuminga for Porzingis; he appeared in only 15 of 27 possible regular-season games after the trade and was limited to 34 games last season split between the Hawks and Warriors.
- late June 2026Golden State re-signed Porzingis to a two-year, $40 million deal with a player option for the second year.
- Sep 28, 2026Warriors GM Mike Dunleavy announced Porzingis would be out indefinitely with health issues.
- Oct 8, 2026Coach Steve Kerr said the organization didn't have a sense behind the scenes of Porzingis' specific health issues.
- Oct 13, 2026Porzingis returned to the Warriors' practice facility and met with Dunleavy and VP of Player Health & Performance Dr. Rick Celebrini, having missed all of training camp and the first five preseason games.
- Oct 14, 2026The Warriors announced Porzingis will remain out indefinitely due to the same health-related matter but will be around the team; he posted on X that he is working with doctors and is "getting better and better," and said he does not have HIV or AIDS, refuting a social-media theory.
- Oct 19, 2026Warriors beat writer Nick Friedell reported Porzingis will not travel with the team as it starts the season; RotoWire reported he remains out indefinitely.
- Oct 21, 2026The Warriors open the season on the road against the Los Angeles Lakers; Porzingis isn't expected to be there.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- The Warriors said Porzingis will remain out indefinitely but be around the team, that the contents of his meeting with team officials will stay private, and that an update will come when appropriate.
- Official
- GM Mike Dunleavy said "I wish I knew" about a return timeline, adding he has no timeframe and feels bad for Porzingis and for the team.
- Party
- Porzingis said he is working with doctors and experts, is "getting better and better," and called the situation frustrating but something the team will get through.
- Caution
- Coach Steve Kerr said he is leaning toward starting a smaller lineup of Stephen Curry, Brandin Podziemski, Gui Santos, Yaxel Lendeborg and Draymond Green in Porzingis' absence.
Still unverified
Porzingis was reportedly diagnosed with POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome) after his final Celtics season, though it is unclear whether that is behind his recent absences; a source told the Chronicle he recently traveled to Los Angeles for specialized medical advice; doctors have yet to identify a long-term solution allowing a full return.