Golden State Warriors center Kristaps Porzingis is stepping away from basketball to focus on a health matter that’s kept him off the court this season.

Porzingis was diagnosed with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), an autonomic condition that can dramatically increase heart rate and cause dizziness and fatigue, after he contracted a virus in early 2025 while with the Boston Celtics.

Boston traded Porzingis to Atlanta in July 2025, and he appeared in just 17 games with the Hawks last season before getting dealt to the Warriors on February 5.

The Latvian ended up playing in just 15 of Golden State’s final 31 regular-season contests but did start both of the Warriors’ NBA Play-In Tournament games.

Porzingis, though, didn’t travel with the Warriors to Hawaii for training camp, and Golden State announced prior to this season’s opener that the Latvian would not be with the team for “the immediate future.”

“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 said in a statement on Friday.

“I’m doing good, but I know what it takes, and I’m not where I want to be to perform at the level that I expect from myself.

“At this point, I’ve made the decision to prioritise my health and step away from the game I love.”

Porzingis signed a two-year, $40million contract in June but said he will work with the Warriors “to find a solution that makes sense.”

https://t.co/d0UoELOmye

— Kristaps Porzingis (@kporzee) November 6, 2026

The New York Knicks selected Porzingis with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, and he’s averaged 19.5 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.78 blocks in 533 games with six teams.

He was named First-Team All-Rookie and later earned his only All-Star selection in 2017-18 with the Knicks.