The Golden State Warriors traded for Kristaps Porziņģis at the deadline fully aware of the health questions surrounding the 7-foot-3 center who can shoot threes, protect the rim, and space the floor — exactly what the team desperately needed. The risk was always whether he could stay on the court.
So far, the answer has been complicated. Porziņģis made his Warriors debut against the Boston Celtics on February 19, scoring 12 points in 17 minutes. He has not played since. A bout of illness kept him off the entire road trip to New Orleans and Memphis.
On Friday (February 27, 2026), Steve Kerr addressed the situation — including a persistent report that had followed Porziņģis for months.
Kerr Sets the Record Straight on POTS
The POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome) narrative had trailed Porziņģis for some time. POTS is a chronic condition causing elevated heart rate, dizziness, and extreme fatigue when moving from sitting/lying to standing. It has no cure, though it can be managed.
Porziņģis had previously spoken about severe exhaustion, and the POTS diagnosis became widely accepted as fact.
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Kerr said it was never accurate. When the trade was finalized, he immediately called Onsi Saleh (now Atlanta’s GM, formerly with Golden State).
“When I heard about the trade, I read about his POTS diagnosis and then called Onsi Saleh, who was with us — he’s now Atlanta’s GM and he’s a good friend of mine,” Kerr told 95.7 The Game’s Willard & Dibs. “I said, ‘Is this POTS story real?’ And he said, ‘It’s actually not POTS.’ So that was some misinformation that was out there.”
Kerr acknowledged the mystery of whatever Porziņģis dealt with in Atlanta:
“I got confirmation that it was not POTS, but it was something else that was really difficult to figure out. Sometimes there’s just mysterious stuff.”
This is a significant clarification: POTS is a long-term condition with no clean resolution. Whatever Porziņģis faced in Atlanta appears separate from the recent illness that kept him home.
Current Situation Heading Into Lakers Game
Kerr separated the two issues clearly. The recent absence (illness) had nothing to do with the prior medical history.
Porziņģis was sick enough that he couldn’t leave his hotel room in Denver. The team kept him back in the Bay Area for the full road trip rather than risk travel while contagious and still losing fluids. Friday was the first time he had done meaningful practice work since the illness began.
“Kristaps was feeling better in practice today,” Kerr said. “First time he’s done much since the illness.”
He is listed as questionable for Saturday’s home game against the Los Angeles Lakers. The hope is that he plays — though minute restrictions are almost certain as he rebuilds conditioning.
What Porziņģis Means for the Warriors
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Golden State is 31-28 and sitting eighth in the Western Conference. Stephen Curry is out with a knee injury. Jimmy Butler is done for the season with a torn ACL. Draymond Green is probable Saturday after missing the Memphis game with back soreness. The roster has been running on fumes for weeks.
Porziņģis changes the calculus if healthy. Across 18 games this season (between Atlanta and Golden State), he is averaging 16.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.3 blocks per game while shooting 46.1% from the field. He gives the Warriors a legitimate post-scoring threat and floor-spacing ability their current rotation cannot replicate.
The Lakers are a serious test. Luka Dončić is averaging 32.7 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.6 assists per game. LeBron James and Austin Reaves provide depth. Los Angeles enters at 34-24, two spots above Golden State in the standings.
Final Word for the Warriors
The POTS clarification is good news — even if the broader picture remains uncertain. What Porziņģis dealt with in Atlanta may be different from the recent illness, but the pattern is familiar: a player who needs to get healthy, build minutes, and find his footing on a team running out of time.
Porziņģis practiced Friday. He feels better. The Warriors need him Saturday.
One step at a time.