After a six-game absence due to health issues, Kristaps Porzingis returned to the court on Saturday night, playing for the Golden State Warriors in a 104-97 loss against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Porzingis contributed nine points, five rebounds, five assists, and one block during his 23 minutes of play.
In a post-game interview, Porzingis expressed optimism about his health, stating, “I felt like my body is coming back to what it needs to be.” He noted that he had one workout before the game and felt “pretty decent.” His return to action comes after battling health issues that have persisted for over a year.
Porzingis’s journey back to the court has been challenging. He joined the Warriors via trade from the Atlanta Hawks on February 4, 2024, and made his debut against the Boston Celtics on February 19. After a promising start, he fell ill two days later, leading to a series of missed games as the Warriors’ training staff sought to address his ongoing health problems.
Complications arose after Porzingis contracted a virus in late February 2023, leading to a diagnosis of postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS). This condition can cause significant increases in heart rate, dizziness, and fatigue. While Porzingis has remained private about his struggles, he acknowledged the impact that these health concerns have had on his career, having played only 17 games with the Hawks prior to the trade.
“Especially getting traded somewhere else, I wanted to get out there as soon as possible,” Porzingis explained. “Sitting out a couple of games was stinging me a little bit.” Despite feeling some heaviness and lacking rhythm in his shooting, he is determined to find his form as the playoffs approach.
The situation became more complex last week when Warriors coach Steve Kerr made comments suggesting that Porzingis did not actually have POTS, which he later retracted, labeling it a “stupid mistake.” Porzingis addressed the issue, saying, “It wasn’t ideal… it put something out again. So people start talking again.” He assured that he understood Kerr’s intentions and did not hold any hard feelings.
Looking ahead, Porzingis will sit out the game against the Utah Jazz on Monday night, the first of a back-to-back set, but plans to play on Tuesday when the Warriors face the Chicago Bulls. He expressed a desire for increased playing time as the playoff season nears, stating, “Only 20 games left or so, I want to catch a really good rhythm and see if we can do anything in the postseason.”
As the Warriors gear up for the final stretch of the season, Porzingis’s health and performance will be critical components in their pursuit of success.
