Kristaps Porziņģis, the 7ft 2in centre who agreed a two-year, $40million (£30million) contract with the Golden State Warriors in late June, is out indefinitely with an undisclosed health issue.

General manager Mike Dunleavy was told of the 31-year-old Latvian's status on Sunday and said: 'I don't have a timeline on it.' He stopped short of calling it a long-term concern, though he offered no further details.

Another Unexplained Illness Emerges

Porziņģis had been working out at Chase Center recently, but he was not set to travel with the squad to Hawaii for training camp. He has not played in the pre-season and has not addressed the media since April.

Coach Steve Kerr called the news 'surprising' when he addressed it at media day in September. In March, when Porziņģis missed time with a medical issue and illness, Kerr had described that absence as 'mysterious'.

Medical Staff Stay in Contact

Porziņģis visited Chase Center on Tuesday, 13 October, to meet Rick Celebrini, the team's director of sports medicine and performance, and general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. Kerr offered no update on his condition or return timeline.

Celebrini and the front office have stayed in consistent contact during the absence. Kerr has texted with the centre, who seems to be 'doing OK'.

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Fatigue Diagnosis Adds Context

Reports in 2025 said Porziņģis had been diagnosed with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) after experiencing extreme fatigue. The condition can cause a rapid increase in heart rate when a person stands up, sometimes accompanied by dizziness and fatigue.

In February 2026, Warriors coach Steve Kerr disputed the diagnosis, saying Atlanta Hawks general manager Onsi Saleh had told him Porziņģis did not have POTS. Kerr subsequently retracted his comments, saying he had made a mistake by discussing a diagnosis he was not qualified to address. The precise explanation for Porziņģis' earlier symptoms has not been publicly confirmed.

Describing that period before last season, Porziņģis said: 'I could just lay on the couch and be a house cat.' Neither he nor the Warriors has said whether his current illness is related to those earlier symptoms.

Height Study Adds Medical Context

A Million Veteran Program study published in PLOS Genetics in June 2022 analysed genetic and medical data from more than 280,000 US veterans. Researchers found associations between genetically predicted height and 127 medical conditions among non-Hispanic White participants, while two associations reached statistical significance among non-Hispanic Black participants.

Height is not typically considered a risk factor for disease. The researchers said it may be an unrecognised but biologically important and unchangeable risk factor, particularly for conditions affecting the limbs.

Genetically predicted height was associated with lower risks of coronary heart disease, high blood pressure and high cholesterol, but a higher risk of atrial fibrillation. The researchers cautioned that further studies are needed to clarify whether these associations are causal.

Peripheral neuropathy, which is damage to nerves outside the brain and spinal cord, was among the stronger links. Taller people also had a higher risk of varicose veins and thrombosis, or blood clots in veins.

Toe and foot deformities, which could be caused by increased weight bearing, were more common in people predicted to be tall. Dr Sridharan Raghavan, who led the study, called the neuropathy finding 'particularly interesting'.

Raghavan said more research is needed before the findings might change clinical care. The study did not examine Porziņģis, and neither he nor the Warriors have linked his illness to his height.

Long Injury History Looms

Knee issues, including a torn ACL that cost him the 2018-19 season, have been the biggest problem. Another rare left leg injury, a torn retinaculum and dislocated posterior tibialis tendon, required surgery after the 2024 NBA Finals.

He later left a game with right heel pain, though Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said it was unrelated to the leg ailment that required off-season surgery. Mazzulla added that Porziņģis was feeling better day to day.

Warriors Keep Faith Despite Silence

Kerr said he fully expects the centre to be with the team at some point. 'There's not a whole lot to report at this time,' he added.

Dunleavy did not want to rule out a return for the season opener on 21 October. 'Hopefully he will be back soon,' he said, adding that the team does not want to overreact.

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