Golden State Warriors center Kristaps Porzingis is away from the team indefinitely and reportedly uncertain about his future in basketball as he deals with recurring symptoms linked to Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, a condition that can cause dizziness and fatigue.
Porzingis addressed the speculation himself in an Oct. 14 post on X. “I’m working with doctors and experts to figure out how to be fully back to good health asap,” he wrote, saying he was “getting better and better.” He described it as “frustrating dealing with some health stuff that you can’t exactly pinpoint,” on top of injuries that have followed him through his career, and pushed back on online speculation about his condition, writing, “I don’t have HIV or AIDS.”
While Porzingis sorts out his health, the Warriors are reportedly exploring trade options. Golden State signed him to a two-year, $40 million extension over the summer. He’s owed $20 million this season, but only $3 million of his $20 million salary for next season is guaranteed.
The Warriors have declined to comment on trade speculation or on reports about Porzingis’ health. The team said conversations with him and his representatives would stay private and that it does not expect him back around the team in the immediate future.
A career that’s spanned five teams
The New York Knicks took Porzingis fourth overall in the 2015 NBA Draft. He went on to play for the Dallas Mavericks, Washington Wizards, Boston Celtics and Atlanta Hawks before landing with Golden State.
His best stretch came with Boston in 2023-24, when he averaged 20.1 points and 7.2 rebounds a game and helped the Celtics win the NBA title. He was also an All-Star in 2018.
Boston traded him to Atlanta in 2025 after 99 regular-season games over two seasons, a move that helped the Celtics trim payroll and stay clear of second-apron restrictions.
His current contract could still make him attractive to another team looking to shed salary down the line. A team could acquire him in a trade and then waive him next summer before the rest of his deal becomes guaranteed, leaving it on the hook for just the $3 million guarantee.
For now, Porzingis’ basketball future remains unsettled as he focuses on his health and the Warriors weigh their next move.
