Porzingis steps away from basketball indefinitely over health issues

Latvian basketball player Kristaps Porzingis, who plays for the Golden State Warriors in the National Basketball Association (NBA, North America's top professional basketball league), is stepping away from the game indefinitely due to health problems. He announced this on Friday, 6 November, on social media. The decision affects both his own career and the club he was due to play for this season.

The player's explanation

Porzingis said he had been looking forward to playing alongside this team this season, but as his workload increased, his body did not respond as he had expected. He noted that he is doing well, but is not currently at the level needed to deliver the performance he expects of himself. He has therefore made his health the priority and will step away from the game.

He also said he wants to show the utmost respect to the Warriors and work with them to find a sensible solution. Porzingis thanked his family and loved ones for their support.

Contract terms

The Liepaja native's contract with the Warriors runs through the end of the 2027-28 season. This season he is owed a salary of 20 million US dollars (about 17.9 million euros), while only 3 million dollars (about 2.69 million euros) is guaranteed for next season.

The club has reportedly stopped paying Porzingis his salary, considering that he is not fulfilling his contractual obligations. It is also reported that the player is highly interested in agreeing to terminate the contract while keeping part of his pay.