The Golden State Warriors have stopped paying Kristaps Porziņģis his $20 million salary as he continues to remain away from the team, according to ESPN. Porziņģis agreed to a two-year, $40 million deal with the Warriors during the summer, which includes a $3 million guarantee for the 2027-28 season. However, he has yet to play for the Warriors due to ongoing undisclosed health issues. There are reports that Porziņģis has considered quitting basketball entirely but has not made any public decisions on the matter. According to The Athletic, he currently does not intend to contest the Warriors’ choice to withhold his payment.
A representative from the National Basketball Players Association declined to comment when contacted by CBS Sports.
Porziņģis has been facing health challenges since his time with the Boston Celtics ended. He previously revealed he was diagnosed with POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome), although the accuracy of this diagnosis is debated. Warriors coach Steve Kerr mentioned in a radio interview that Atlanta Hawks GM Onsi Saleh disputed the POTS diagnosis but later clarified those remarks days afterward.
Since late September, Porziņģis has been absent from team activities. In mid-October, he met with General Manager Mike Dunleavy and Vice President of Player Health and Performance Rick Celebrini. Following that meeting, the Warriors stated Porziņģis would be “around the team,” though he has not been seen publicly doing so.
In October, Porziņģis released a statement regarding his health, later specifying that he does not have HIV or AIDS. He said, “Hello everyone, I’m working closely with doctors and specialists to regain full health as soon as possible. Honestly, I’m improving day by day. I just need to be patient, but I’m confident I’ll feel great again soon. It’s been frustrating dealing with unclear health issues in addition to previous injuries, but we’ll get through it. Health is wealth. Thank you all for your support.”
While NBA players are generally paid regardless of health concerns, teams sometimes withhold salary if they believe a player has breached their contract. A notable example is Ben Simmons and the Philadelphia 76ers during the 2021-22 season, when Simmons sought a trade. The 76ers claimed Simmons refused to play in games and skipped training camp, while Simmons cited mental health issues. Eventually, Simmons was traded to the Brooklyn Nets, and they settled on Simmons recovering part of his withheld salary.
The Warriors are looking to trade Porziņģis to make use of his $20 million salary cap space. Given his health status, his trade value as an active player is limited, but because his contract mostly expires after this season—with only $3 million guaranteed next year—he could attract teams aiming to offload longer contracts. The Warriors might also include draft picks to facilitate a trade, using Porziņģis primarily as matching salary.
Despite Porziņģis’ absence, Golden State has surprisingly performed well, starting the season 5-3, largely due to Stephen Curry’s excellent play and the rise of rookie Yaxel Lendeborg as a foundational player. On paper, Porziņģis fits perfectly as a shooting center to complement Draymond Green, a forward who struggles with shooting. However, with it increasingly unlikely that Porziņģis will ever play for the Warriors again, trading him appears to be the best way for the team to salvage the situation.
Fan Take: Kristaps Porziņģis’ health saga is a sobering reminder of the unpredictable challenges athletes face beyond their control, highlighting the importance of player wellness in professional sports. For fans, this situation underscores how teams must balance high-stakes contracts with real human struggles—and it could reshape how the NBA approaches health transparency and contract management moving forward.
Source: www.cbssports.com
