Golden State Warriors center Kristaps Porziņģis has stepped away from basketball unexpectedly due to health concerns, but veteran Draymond Green says the team is not fixated on his absence. Speaking with The Athletic’s Sam Amick, Green emphasized that the Warriors have never fostered a culture of blame or negativity, and they are focused on moving forward regardless of how valuable Porziņģis might have been on the court.
Green shared, “No one is criticizing him or overly concerned. In our minds, we’re focusing on the players we currently have. We know what kind of player he is, but no one here is waiting for him to return. Everyone’s moved on mentally.”
According to Green, Warriors GM Mike Dunleavy updated the team about Porziņģis’ situation before their season opener against the Lakers, and the topic was revisited last week with the reinforcement that the team is moving forward. Green highlighted opportunities for others to step up, mentioning journeyman center Charles Bassey and undrafted rookie Graham Ike as players eager to make their mark.
He added, “As I said, everyone has moved on. It’s a next-man-up mindset. We support these guys and invest in their growth so they can help the team. But you can’t waste time worrying about things you can’t change.”
Porziņģis, acquired by the Warriors in a February trade, has not played this season while managing undisclosed health issues. The 31-year-old Latvian signed a two-year, $40 million deal this summer, but reportedly hasn’t been receiving his salary while sidelined. Although details remain unclear, Porziņģis has a past diagnosis of postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), a chronic neurological condition.
In Porziņģis’ absence, Golden State is leaning on Al Horford as the backup center behind Green, supplemented by Bassey and Ike for depth.
Fan Take: This situation is significant for basketball fans because how the Warriors handle Porziņģis’ absence could impact their championship chances and team dynamics this season. It also highlights the increasing awareness and importance of addressing player health beyond just injuries, which could influence how NBA teams manage similar cases moving forward.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
