Warriors Halt Salary Payments to Absent Center Kristaps Porziņģis
Golden State stops paying Porziņģis as undisclosed health issues keep him away from the team.
1Salary Payments Halted
The Golden State Warriors have stopped issuing semimonthly salary payments to Kristaps Porziņģis. The team maintains that the veteran center is not rendering his professional services while remaining away from the organization. Porziņģis, who signed a two-year, $40 million contract this summer, has been absent from team activities since late September.
2Undisclosed Health Struggles
Porziņģis has been dealing with undisclosed health problems since his tenure with the Boston Celtics ended. While he previously mentioned a diagnosis of postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, or POTS, the accuracy of that condition remains in dispute. He recently clarified in a public statement that he does not have HIV or AIDS.
3Internal Team Dynamics
In mid-October, Porziņģis met with general manager Mike Dunleavy and vice president Rick Celebrini. Although the team initially announced he would be around the squad, he has not appeared publicly with the team since. Porziņģis has reportedly considered stepping away from basketball entirely but has not made any formal, public decisions yet.
4Legal and Contractual Stance
Despite the financial withholding, Porziņģis does not currently plan to challenge the Warriors regarding their decision. The National Basketball Players Association declined to comment on the situation when reached. Typically, NBA players receive their full salary regardless of health status, unless a team determines the player is in breach of their contract.
5Historical Contract Precedents
Teams occasionally withhold salary when they believe a player is failing to fulfill contractual obligations. A notable precedent occurred during the 2021-22 season between Ben Simmons and the Philadelphia 76ers. Simmons eventually recouped a portion of his withheld salary through a settlement after being traded to the Brooklyn Nets following similar disputes.
6Strategic Trade Motivations
The Warriors are actively attempting to trade Porziņģis to utilize his $20 million cap figure. Because his contract includes only a $3 million guarantee for the 2027-28 season, he functions as an expiring asset. Golden State may use him to offload long-term money or package him with draft picks to facilitate a deal.
7Roster Performance Impact
Golden State has achieved a 5-3 start this season despite the absence of their intended starting center. The team has relied on the performance of Stephen Curry and the emergence of rookie Yaxel Lendeborg. Porziņģis was originally acquired to provide 3-point shooting to complement Draymond Green, but that plan has stalled.
8Future Outlook Uncertain
As it becomes increasingly unlikely that Porziņģis will suit up for Golden State, a trade remains the primary path for the organization to resolve the situation. The team must navigate the complexities of his health status while managing their salary cap. Porziņģis continues to work with medical experts to regain his health.