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Warriors center Kristaps Porzingis’ long-term outlook in Golden State is under scrutiny.
The Golden State Warriors traded for Kristaps Porzingis at the deadline knowing the questions surrounding his health. A 7-foot-3 center who can shoot threes, protect the rim, and space the floor is exactly what this team needed. The risk was always going to be whether he could stay on the court.
So far, the answer has been complicated. Porzingis made his Warriors debut against the Boston Celtics on February 19, putting up 12 points in 17 minutes. He has not played since. A bout of illness kept him off the road trip entirely while Golden State went to New Orleans and Memphis without him.
On Friday, Steve Kerr addressed it all — including a report that had been circulating since before the trade was finalized.
Kerr Sets the Record Straight on POTS
GettyKristaps Porzingis #8 of the Golden State Warriors.
The POTS narrative had followed Porzingis for months. Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome is a chronic condition that causes elevated heart rate, dizziness, and extreme fatigue when transitioning from sitting or lying down to standing. It has no known cure, though it can be managed with treatment and lifestyle adjustments. Porzingis had previously spoken publicly about dealing with severe exhaustion, and the POTS diagnosis became widely accepted as fact.
Kerr said it was never accurate. When the trade came through, he picked up the phone.
“When I heard about the trade, I read about his POTS diagnosis and then called Onsi Saleh, who was with us — he’s now Atlanta’s GM and he’s a good friend of mine,” Kerr told 95.7 The Game’s Willard & Dibs on Friday. “I said, ‘Is this POTS story real?’ And he said, ‘It’s actually not POTS.’ So that was some misinformation that was out there.”
That is a significant clarification. Whatever was keeping Porzingis out in Atlanta was something else entirely — something the medical staff found difficult to diagnose. Kerr acknowledged the mystery of it without going into specifics.
“I got confirmation that it was not POTS, but it was something else that was really difficult to figure out,” Kerr said. “Sometimes there’s just mysterious stuff.”
The distinction matters because POTS is a long-term condition with no clean resolution. Whatever Porzingis dealt with in Atlanta, the Warriors believe it is separate from the illness that kept him home this past week.
The Current Situation Heading Into the Lakers Game
Kerr was careful to separate the two issues. The recent absence, he said, had nothing to do with Porzingis’ medical history in Atlanta.
Porzingis was sick enough that he could not leave his hotel room when the Warriors were in Denver. The team made the decision to keep him back in the Bay Area for the full road trip rather than risk him traveling while contagious and still losing fluids. Friday was the first time he had done any meaningful work in practice since the illness began.
“Kristaps was feeling better in practice today,” Kerr said. “First time he’s done much since the illness.”
He is listed as questionable for Saturday’s home game against the Los Angeles Lakers. The hope from the Warriors’ side is that he plays. Even if he does, minute restrictions are likely as he works his way back to full conditioning.
What Porzingis Means for the Warriors
Golden State is 31-28 and sitting eighth in the Western Conference. Stephen Curry is out with a knee injury. Jimmy Butler is done for the season. Draymond Green is probable for Saturday after missing the Memphis game with back soreness. The roster has been running on fumes for weeks.
Porzingis changes the calculus if he can stay healthy. Across 18 games this season between Atlanta and Golden State, he is averaging 16.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.3 blocks per game while shooting 46.1 percent from the field. He gives the Warriors a genuine scoring option in the post and the ability to stretch defenses in ways their current rotation simply cannot replicate.
The Lakers present a serious test. Luka Doncic is averaging 32.7 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.6 assists per game. LeBron James and Austin Reaves provide depth around him. Los Angeles enters at 34-24, two spots above Golden State in the standings.
Final Word for the Warriors
The POTS clarification is good news, even if the broader picture remains uncertain. What Porzingis dealt with in Atlanta may be different from what is keeping him out now, but the pattern is familiar. A player who needs to get healthy, get minutes, and find his footing on a team running out of time.
Porzingis practiced Friday. He feels better. The Warriors need him on Saturday.
One step at a time.
Keith Watkins Keith Watkins is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics, and Los Angeles Lakers. He previously wrote for FanSided, NBA Analysis Network, and Last Word On Sports. Keith is based in Bangkok, Thailand. More about Keith Watkins
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