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Golden State center Kristaps Porzingis says he is stepping away from basketball because he cannot perform at the level he expects from himself. The move is not an official retirement, and the Warriors have no plan to void his contract as they continue to explore trade options.
Golden State Warriors center Kristaps Porzingis says he is stepping away from basketball because his body is not ready for him to play at the level he expects, a decision that leaves his season in doubt but is not an official retirement. The Warriors do not plan to void his contract and can still use his salary in a trade, according to ESPN, citing team and league sources.
Porzingis made the announcement in a social media post Friday, saying he had intended to play this season but was unable to build up his physical condition for training camp. “I’m doing good, but I know what it takes, and I’m not where I want to be to perform at the level I expect of myself,” he wrote. He also said he wanted to work with the Warriors on a solution that respects the team.
According to ESPN’s report, Porzingis called general manager Mike Dunleavy two days before the Warriors’ first practice and said he would not report. The team initially allowed him to remain away from its facility for two weeks, then met with him in early October. Porzingis left the team again after that meeting and has since decided to step away from the NBA.
Porzingis signed a two-year, $40 million extension with Golden State in late June. The Warriors have not been paying him his $20 million salary, ESPN reported, and neither Porzingis nor the players’ association is contesting that decision. The team has no plan to void the contract, according to team sources cited by ESPN.
A Health Decision With Trade Implications
Porzingis’ absence is a major uncertainty for a Warriors team that began the season 6-3 and was on a six-game winning streak at the time of the report. His decision means Golden State cannot count on him to contribute on court while he remains away, though the team has not announced that his contract will be terminated.
The contract also gives the Warriors a potential tool as they look for ways to improve the roster. ESPN reported that the team is surveying a trade market that had not yet materialized. Porzingis is open to being traded, according to the report, and his deal may appeal to a club seeking to move longer-term salary or reduce immediate costs. That possibility is separate from any certainty that a trade will happen.
For Porzingis, the immediate issue is whether his health permits him to return to the standard of play he believes is required. His statement describes his physical readiness, not a final decision to retire or a confirmed timetable for a comeback.
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How Porzingis Reached This Point
Porzingis has dealt with ongoing health problems after contracting a viral illness while with Boston two seasons ago, as well as several leg injuries during an 11-year NBA career, ESPN reported. The source material does not specify a single diagnosis as the reason for his latest decision. Porzingis framed it as an inability to ramp up for the season and perform to his own expectations.
The chronology points to a growing separation from the team rather than a sudden announcement on opening day. He told Dunleavy before training camp that he would not report, returned for a meeting in early October after a period away, and then left again. His Friday statement made the broader decision public: he is stepping away from basketball, while leaving room for the Warriors and him to seek a mutually acceptable resolution.
Golden State’s contract position matters because the team can retain Porzingis’ salary on its books rather than simply remove the agreement. ESPN reported that the $20 million salary can be included in a trade before February’s deadline. Porzingis has only $3 million guaranteed on his deal next season, and ESPN reported that a receiving team could expect he would be open to a buyout after a trade. Those are reported possibilities, not a completed transaction or agreement.
““I’m doing good, but I know what it takes, and I’m not where I want to be to perform at the level I expect of myself.””
— Kristaps Porzingis, in a social media post
Return Plans and Contract Path Remain Open
No return date has been announced, and Porzingis has not said that he is retiring. The source material does not establish whether he expects to resume playing later this season, what medical issues currently prevent him from playing, or what conditions would need to change for him to return.
It is also unclear whether the Warriors will trade him, whether another team would make an offer, or whether a trade would be followed by a buyout. ESPN described the trade market as not yet materialized. The report also says Porzingis’ salary payments have stopped without a dispute from him or the players’ association, but it does not provide further details about the arrangement or its duration.
Warriors Face February Trade Deadline
The Warriors are continuing to survey possible trades, according to team sources cited by ESPN, with the February trade deadline providing a potential decision point. Porzingis’ contract remains available for trade, but neither a deal nor a timetable for one has been announced.
For now, the next developments are likely to be clarification from Porzingis or the team about his status, and any change in Golden State’s plans for the contract. Until then, his playing future remains unresolved: he has stepped away, but has not declared retirement.
Key Questions
Has Kristaps Porzingis retired from the NBA?
No. Porzingis said he is stepping away from basketball, but the report says this is not an official retirement. He has not announced a return date.
Why is Porzingis stepping away?
He said his body did not respond as he tried to prepare for training camp and that he is not physically where he needs to be to play at his expected level. The report also cites a history of health issues and leg injuries, but does not identify a specific current diagnosis.
Will the Warriors void his contract?
According to team sources cited by ESPN, the Warriors have no plan to void the contract. The report says his salary can still be included in a trade.
Could Porzingis be traded?
Yes, a trade is possible, but none has been announced. ESPN reported that Porzingis is amenable to a trade and that Golden State is surveying the market.
When could a trade happen?
The Warriors can use Porzingis’ salary in a trade ahead of the February deadline, according to ESPN. The report does not give a specific timetable or say that a trade is likely.
Source: espn.com
