The dream of seeing Kristaps Porzingis back in green and gold is over for now. At just 31 years old, the former Celtics champion has made a heartbreaking choice to step away from basketball. His body simply could not handle the workload he wanted to give the game. This is not a trade or a rest period. It is a stop. The 7-foot-2 big man who helped Boston win the Larry O’Brien Trophy in 2024 has decided his health comes first.
A Body That Would Not Cooperate
Porzingis had high hopes for this season with the Golden State Warriors. He wanted to run the floor with his new teammates. But the reality of his condition crushed those plans. “This season I was really looking forward to running it with this group, but as I ramped up, my body didn’t respond the way I anticipated,” Porzingis wrote in his statement. He knows what it takes to perform at a high level, and he admits he is not there yet. The decision to prioritize his health means he will not play for the Warriors this year. It is a painful end for a player who once brought a championship to Boston.
The financial side of this story is just as stark. The Warriors have stopped paying his $20 million salary. Boston.com reported that the team is “ruling that the currently absent center is not rendering his services.” This move is rare and severe. It shows how serious the situation has become. Porzingis has not pushed back against the lack of payment. League sources say the player’s association has no plan to dispute the decision either. The silence from the player and the union speaks volumes about the gravity of his health struggles.
Health Issues That Stopped a Career
Since his last Boston campaign in 2024-25, Porzingis has battled sickness. An autoimmune disorder called P.O.T.S. caused him recurring symptoms, draining his energy and restricting his capacity to play. Prior to this new setback, he played just 32 games total for the Atlanta Hawks and the Warriors. The Warriors signed him to a two-year, $40 million contract this past summer, hoping he would add depth next to Stephen Curry. Instead, he has been sidelined indefinitely since September.
Golden State is not trying to void his contract right now. They want to keep their options open for a trade before the Feb. 11 deadline. “The Warriors have no current plans on voiding Porzingis’ contract, team sources said, maintaining trade flexibility up until the Feb. 11 deadline,” ESPN’s report from Charania and Anthony Slater noted. But the clock is ticking on his career. At 31, with health issues that have not improved, the window to return is closing fast. The Celtics fans who cheered for his rim protection and shooting now watch a player who cannot even step on the court.
The league is bracing for the worst-case scenario. ESPN’s Shams Charania said the Warriors are discussing trade routes while Porzingis weighs an end to his career. “He continues to deal with recurring symptoms of an autoimmune disease known as P.O.T.S.,” Charania said. “He has not been feeling good, especially recently from my understanding and if there is no breakthrough the Warriors are braced for him potentially having to leave the game of basketball at 31 years old.” The numbers on his contract and the dates of his games tell the full story of a career cut short by a body that just will not heal.
