Kerr: Warriors Moving On Without Porzingis as His Health Situation Remains Unclear
Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr says the club is moving forward without Latvian basketball player Kristaps Porzingis. The nature of his health problems has not been specified, and he has not joined the team this season.
Steve Kerr, head coach of the Golden State Warriors of the NBA, North America's professional basketball league, has commented on the situation surrounding Latvian big man Kristaps Porzingis in a local radio interview. Kerr said the team is focused on daily work and the next games, which suggests the club does not expect Porzingis to return. The matter is significant because it is unclear whether the player will continue his career at all.
Background
The day before training camp opened ahead of the new season, Porzingis informed the Warriors he would not be joining the team, citing worsening health. The specific problems have not been made public. The Warriors initially expected him back, but the situation changed once the season began. Porzingis has not been with the team, having met Mike Dunleavy and Rick Celebrini once. His absence from games is officially listed as "not with the team".
ESPN has reported that the Latvian is considering ending his career, while the club is weighing a trade or even a contract buyout. Online frustration was also sparked by reports of a possible visit to an orthodontist in Spain.
Kerr's comments
Kerr said the club was surprised by what happened, as there had been constant communication with Porzingis over the summer and he seemed to be feeling well until training camp. The coach said he has not thought much about the situation, occasionally checks in on how the player is doing, but the team is moving on.
Career
Porzingis has played for the New York Knicks, Dallas Mavericks, Washington Wizards, Boston Celtics and Atlanta Hawks. In 2024 he won the NBA title with the Celtics. He has represented Latvia at two European Championships, in 2017 and 2025, the latter held in Riga. Whether he will play basketball again is currently unknown.
