Kristaps Porzingis made his return to the court after a six-game absence due to health issues, playing for the Golden State Warriors in a 104-97 defeat against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday night. Porzingis contributed nine points, five rebounds, five assists, and one block during his 23 minutes on the floor.
“I felt like my body is coming back to what it needs to be,” Porzingis stated after the game. He participated in a workout prior to the match and reported feeling “pretty decent.” The 28-year-old forward had warmed up before the Warriors’ road game against the Houston Rockets on Thursday and completed a practice session on Friday.
Following his trade from the Atlanta Hawks on February 4, Porzingis aimed to find rhythm as he rejoined the team. He had previously played 17 minutes in his debut against the Boston Celtics on February 19, but illness struck shortly after, leading to a frustrating six-game hiatus. His health issues have been linked to postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), a condition that can lead to increased heart rate, dizziness, and fatigue.
Porzingis has remained relatively private about his health struggles but acknowledged their impact on his career. “Especially getting traded somewhere else, I wanted to get out there as soon as possible,” he said. “Sitting out a couple of games was stinging me a little bit.”
The situation surrounding Porzingis’s health gained further attention last week when Warriors coach Steve Kerr commented on local radio that Porzingis did not actually have POTS, branding it “misinformation.” Kerr later retracted his statement, calling it a “stupid mistake” and acknowledging his lack of knowledge on the subject. Porzingis commented on the confusion, saying, “It wasn’t ideal… it put something out again. So people start talking again.”
The Warriors plan to rest Porzingis on Monday night in Utah, as they navigate a back-to-back schedule. He is expected to return to action on Tuesday night against the Chicago Bulls. With approximately 20 games remaining in the regular season, Porzingis expressed a desire to increase his playing time. “I want to catch a really good rhythm and see if we can do anything in the postseason,” he noted.
As the playoffs approach, the Warriors will be closely monitoring Porzingis’s health and performance to maximize their chances for success.
