The Golden State Warriors wasted no time integrating their big trade-deadline splash. On Tuesday (February 17, 2026), head coach Steve Kerr revealed the team ran dedicated post-up plays for Kristaps Porzingis during practice — a clear sign they’re willing to tweak their iconic motion offense to maximize the 7-foot-3 Latvian unicorn’s scoring gravity.
“He’s an easy fit,” Kerr told reporters, via ESPN’s Anthony Slater. “You don’t have to change a whole lot. The biggest difference is that he provides his post-ups. He’s a pretty good post-up player, especially against switches. You throw him the ball at the foul line, the elbows, even the low block, he can score in those spots.”
Slater captured the shift in real time on X: “Steve Kerr said the Warriors worked on their spacing around Kristaps Porzingis post ups tonight: ‘It’s a little different than our spacing around Jimmy…Kristaps is more of a scorer, shooter from iso spots.’”
From Butler’s Playmaking to Porzingis’ Scoring: How the System is Evolving
The Warriors have historically ranked near the bottom in traditional post-up volume (16th in post-ups, 24th in post-up FGA this season), preferring pindowns, off-ball screens, and Stephen Curry’s gravitational pull to create chaos. But they’ve already shown flexibility: since acquiring Jimmy Butler III earlier this season, Golden State led the league in post touches (463.5 per game), largely because Butler operated as a hub from the post — drawing doubles and kicking out.
Now, with Porzingis in the fold, the emphasis flips from facilitation to scoring. Kerr explained the nuance: “It’s one of the things we did today — we worked on our spacing around [Porzingis]. It’s a little different than the spacing around Jimmy, who attacked the paint and kicked out from that area, whereas Kristaps is more of a scorer/shooter from ISO spots. But similar concepts for everybody else.”
The key? Recognizing mismatches and maintaining elite spacing. Porzingis thrives against switches — his face-up game, fadeaways, and three-point shooting from the elbows/low blocks make him a nightmare in isolation or post scenarios. Warriors players will need to read when to cut, relocate, or crash for rebounds while Porzingis works.
This isn’t a full overhaul — the Warriors still avoid heavy pick-and-roll/ISO volume (fewest since Kerr arrived in 2014) — but it’s another example of Kerr’s adaptability. Just as they bent the system for Butler, they’re doing it again for Porzingis.
Echoes of the Celtics’ Championship Formula?
It’s hard not to notice the parallel: the Boston Celtics ran 3.5 post-ups per game for Porzingis during their 2024 title run, unlocking his mid-range/post scoring against smaller defenders. Those touches helped Boston dominate mismatches and stretch defenses. Golden State appears eager to borrow from that blueprint — especially with Porzingis’ sharpshooting (career 36-38% from three) and ability to punish switches.
Injury Update: Porzingis & Curry Game-Time Decisions vs. Boston
Porzingis has been limited since the calendar flipped to 2026: he missed 13 straight games (Jan. 9–31) with Achilles tendinitis while with Atlanta, then sat his final Hawks game with illness. Since the trade to Golden State, he’s been listed with Achilles issues but practiced fully Tuesday.
Kerr gave an optimistic update: “Kristaps has been here the last handful of days and practiced today with the team. He looked good. He’s feeling good. We won’t make a determination [on his availability] until after tomorrow. When we practice tomorrow afternoon, we’ll get up and down the floor and scrimmage.”
Both Porzingis and Stephen Curry (knee soreness) are listed as game-time decisions for Thursday’s massive post-All-Star clash against the Boston Celtics — Porzingis’ former team. The Warriors (29-26, losers of 4 of their last 6 pre-break) desperately need a spark to climb the West standings.
Bottom Line: Warriors Betting on Porzingis’ Versatility to Reignite Offense
This isn’t just a roster addition; it’s a tactical shift. By designing post actions and adjusting spacing, Kerr is giving Porzingis clear paths to score while preserving the Warriors’ motion identity. If he stays healthy and clicks with Curry’s gravity, the fit could be seamless — turning Golden State into a more unpredictable, mismatch-hunting threat.
Warriors fans: Excited to see Porzingis post-ups in the motion system? Think this Celtics rematch could be the statement game? Drop your predictions below and share if you’re hyped for Thursday’s showdown!