Kristaps Porzingis finally made his long-awaited Golden State Warriors debut on Thursday night (February 20, 2026), finishing with 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting (including 2-of-4 from three) in 17 minutes off the bench. The performance was encouraging for a player returning from Achilles tendinitis — he looked fluid, knocked down shots, and provided some rim protection in limited action — but the Warriors fell 121-110 to the Boston Celtics in a game that doubled as Porzingis’ first matchup against his former team.
The addition of the 7’2″ Latvian big man was always going to reshape the rotation, and it delivered an immediate and brutal blow to second-year center Quinten Post.
Post’s First DNP of the Season – Porzingis Takes Center Minutes
Post had started 22 straight games in December and January, carving out a real role as a floor-spacing, rim-protecting backup/spot starter. But his minutes were already trending downward even before the trade deadline deal that sent Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield to Atlanta for Porzingis.
Post’s role shrunk further post-trade:
- Less than 16 combined minutes across three games (vs. Suns, Lakers, Grizzlies), going scoreless in all three.
- A brief sign of life right before the All-Star break: 13 minutes in a loss to the Spurs, where he scored 12 points (3-of-5 from three), grabbed 3 rebounds, dished 2 assists, and posted a positive plus-minus.
None of it mattered Thursday. Post received his first DNP-CD of the season, completely stapled to the bench as Porzingis and Al Horford (acquired midseason) split the traditional center minutes. Draymond Green played small-ball five to start both halves but logged only 19 minutes himself in a rough outing (0-for-7 FG, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, -28).
Unless injuries hit (Porzingis has a long injury history), it’s difficult to see a realistic path back to the rotation for Post outside of garbage time or second nights of back-to-backs when veterans are managed.
Porzingis Eager for More Minutes – Post’s Contract Future in Jeopardy
Post-game, Porzingis sounded optimistic about ramping up quickly: “I expect to play a couple more minutes on Sunday against Denver.”
Steve Kerr praised his debut but noted the need for gradual increases given the Achilles recovery. Porzingis’ minutes are only going up from here — which pushes Post even further out of the picture.
This DNP comes at the worst possible time for the 25-year-old big man. Post will be a restricted free agent this summer, and his ability to command a multi-year deal worth $5M+ annually (or more) was tied to consistent rotation minutes and production. Porzingis’ arrival has erased that leverage almost overnight.
The Bigger Picture for Golden State
The Warriors (29-27) are still fighting for play-in positioning in a brutal West. Porzingis gives them elite size, shooting, and switchability they desperately needed — but at the direct expense of Post’s development and future.
For now, the rotation reality is clear:
- Porzingis → primary backup/spot starter at center
- Horford → veteran depth
- Green → small-ball five when needed
- Post → healthy scratch until further notice
Warriors fans: Brutal but understandable? Or do you hate seeing Post’s breakout season end like this? Think he ever gets back in the mix, or is Porzingis the final nail? Comment below and share if you’re excited for KP’s next steps — or worried about the young big’s future!