Warriors’ Kristaps Porzingis announces he’s stepping away from basketball

Kristaps Porzingis is stepping away from basketball to prioritize his health, the Warriors big man announced Friday.

“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 a statement posted on X.

“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 prioritize my health and step away from the game I love.”

Porzingis, 31, did not announce a timetable for a possible return or explicitly describe the decision as retirement. He also did not identify the health issue in his statement.

He has been absent since the beginning of training camp. The Athletic reported that the Warriors have stopped paying him because he is not rendering services under his contract. Porzingis and the National Basketball Players Association have no current plans to challenge that decision, according to the report.

Porzingis indicated Friday that he wants to cooperate with the organization on what comes next.

“In this situation, I want to show the utmost respect for the Golden State Warriors and work with them to find a solution that makes sense,” he wrote.

The announcement comes with the Warriors riding a six-game winning streak and Draymond Green handling much of the responsibility at center.

Porzingis closed his statement by thanking those who have supported him.

“I’m thankful to my family and close ones for always being there. Much appreciation to all of you for the support.”

RELATED | Warriors stop paying Kristaps Porzingis, but still want to trade him