Kristaps Porzingis confident mysterious illness is under control after Warriors return

Kristaps Porzingis is cautiously optimistic about his health after returning to action for the Golden State Warriors. The 7-foot-2 center, who has battled a mysterious illness for over a year, believes his condition can finally be managed following his second appearance in a Warriors uniform.

« I believe I will be healthy now. This is how I feel, » Porzingis said after playing 23 minutes in Saturday’s loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. « I felt like my body is coming back to what it needs to be. One workout [before the game] and felt pretty decent. »

A challenging journey with POTS

Porzingis has been dealing with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), a condition that dramatically increases heart rate and causes dizziness and fatigue. The illness developed after he contracted an upper respiratory virus in late February 2025 while with the Boston Celtics.

The impact has been significant. Porzingis has missed 110 games combined over the past two and a half seasons, playing just 42 regular season games since the 2024-2025 campaign began. His playoff performance last season suffered dramatically, averaging only 7.7 points on 31.6% shooting in 21.0 minutes per game.

After claiming it was « stinging me a little bit » to be absent from the lineup, the 30-year-old former All-Star expressed renewed confidence in his ability to contribute. Against Oklahoma City, he recorded nine points, five rebounds and five assists, though he struggled with his shooting, going 3-of-10 from the field and 0-of-3 from 3-points range.

Warriors’ calculated gamble

The Warriors acquired Porzingis from the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield, viewing him as a potential difference-maker despite his health concerns. Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy acknowledged the risk but expressed confidence in the team’s medical evaluation.

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« The simple answer on that for me is I heavily rely and trust our medical group, » Dunleavy told ESPN. « So when they look at the stuff and they say, ‘We’re good, we feel comfortable with what we’re dealing with,’ then I’m on to the next thing from a basketball standpoint. »

The move represents both opportunity and uncertainty for Golden State. With Stephen Curry sidelined indefinitely due to knee trouble and Jimmy Butler out with a torn ACL, the Warriors have $144.4 million in salary on the sideline while fighting for playoff positioning. Porzingis becomes an unrestricted free agent this summer, making his health crucial for both his future prospects and the Warriors‘ championship aspirations.