Bold opening: The mystery illness keeping Kristaps Porziņģis sidelined is not just keeping him off the court—it’s reshaping how the Warriors plan for the rest of the season.
Porziņģis, Golden State’s new big man, has appeared in only one game since being traded from the Hawks on February 5. He’ll miss his fifth straight contest on Monday night due to an illness, and at the moment there’s no clear timetable for his return. Before the game against the LA Clippers, Warriors coach Steve Kerr said the medical situation remains unclear and that Porziņģis is still working toward consistent health.
“Not really,” Kerr replied when asked for specifics about the illness. “It’s a bit mysterious. We’re supporting him and hoping he can get some clarity and break through to a steady, healthy point, but that’s something the medical staff is actively addressing. I’m not going to guess medical theories anymore.”
Porziņģis was acquired from Atlanta just before the trade deadline in exchange for Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield. After a 17-minute stint versus the Boston Celtics on February 19, he hasn’t played since. Kerr and the team had hoped he’d be ready after Friday’s practice, but he sat out Saturday’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers as well.
Last October, Porziņģis told The Athletic’s Fred Katz that he had been diagnosed with POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome), a condition that affected his performance over the past year. The Warriors, while publicly confident they could help him stay on the floor, have thus far been unable to pinpoint the current issue. Kerr indicated on a Friday radio appearance that Hawks GM Onsi Saleh had told him Porziņģis did not have POTS, though Kerr later walked back those remarks, calling them a “stupid mistake” and deferring to medical professionals for clarity on whether the latest illness is related to the prior diagnosis.
When pressed, Kerr redirected questions about Porziņģis’s condition to Warriors VP of Player Health and Performance, Rick Celebrini: “Whenever Rick comes up here behind the mic, you can ask Rick … I’m not qualified.”
The situation feels even more unsettled as Kuminga has started his new chapter with the Hawks in unexpectedly strong fashion. Since the February 5 trade, Kuminga debuted for Atlanta on February 24 and has averaged 21.3 points on 67.7% shooting, including 55.6% from three. He’s also contributing 7.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.7 steals per game, and the Hawks have won all three of his appearances so far.
Mar 3, 2026
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Nick Friedell is a Senior Writer for The Athletic covering the Golden State Warriors and the NBA. He previously spent 14 years with ESPN as a reporter and commentator. He’s a Syracuse University Newhouse School graduate. Follow Nick on X @NickFriedell.
