Porzingis, returning from illness, states he ‘will be healthy moving forward’
OKLAHOMA CITY — After missing six games due to health concerns, Kristaps Porzingis made his second appearance with the Golden State Warriors on Saturday night, scoring nine points in a 104-97 defeat against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
“I feel like my body is returning to where it should be,” Porzingis stated. “I had one workout (before the game) and felt fairly good.”
Porzingis participated in warm-ups ahead of the team’s road game in Houston on Thursday night and completed a practice session on Friday. He logged 23 minutes against the Thunder on Saturday, contributing nine points, five rebounds, five assists, and one block.
“I truly believe I will be healthy now,” Porzingis remarked. “This is how I genuinely feel. I’m not trying to promote anything since I’ve been in and out, but this time I really feel this is it.”
The Warriors obtained Porzingis through a trade with the Atlanta Hawks on February 4. He remained in San Francisco during the All-Star break, preparing for his debut on February 19. He played 17 minutes that evening against the Boston Celtics and expressed his readiness for a larger role.
However, Porzingis fell ill two mornings later and entered another prolonged period of sickness, missing six consecutive games as the Warriors’ training staff worked to better understand the health issues he has faced for over a year.
After contracting a virus in late February of last year, doctors with the Celtics diagnosed Porzingis with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), an autonomic disorder that can significantly elevate heart rate and lead to dizziness and fatigue.
Porzingis has kept his struggles largely private, even opting not to elaborate much on Saturday night, but it continues to impact his career. He was limited to 17 games with the Hawks before the trade.
“Especially after being traded, I wanted to get on the court as soon as I could,” Porzingis said. “Missing a few games was tough for me. Today was alright. I felt a bit heavy, and my shot wasn’t quite in rhythm yet.”
Warriors coach Steve Kerr stirred some controversy last week when he mentioned on local Bay Area radio that Porzingis did not actually have POTS, labeling it “misinformation.” Kerr later retracted his statement, calling it a “stupid mistake” to comment on something he was not well-informed about.
“It wasn’t ideal,” Porzingis commented regarding the Kerr incident. “Because it brought up the topic again. So people start discussing it again. I told Steve it was fine. I understand he didn’t mean any harm or want to create a stir around my health. He just shared what he knew at that moment.”
Porzingis will take a break on Monday night in Utah as part of a back-to-back schedule. The Warriors intend to utilize him on Tuesday night when they host the Chicago Bulls. Porzingis expressed a desire for an increase in minutes as the playoffs approach.
“With only about 20 games left, I want to establish a solid rhythm and see if we can achieve something in the postseason,” Porzingis said.
