Kristaps Porzingis played his first game in over two weeks for the Golden State Warriors, contributing in a 104-97 defeat to the Oklahoma City Thunder. The center, recently acquired from the Atlanta Hawks, showed flashes of potential despite feeling rusty. Coach Steve Kerr expressed optimism about Porzingis's role in the team's playoff push.
In Oklahoma City, Kristaps Porzingis took the court for 23 minutes during the Golden State Warriors' 104-97 loss to the Thunder on Saturday night. Returning after missing over two weeks due to a mysterious illness, the 30-year-old center finished with nine points on 3-of-9 shooting, five rebounds, five assists, and one block. Acquired by the Warriors on February 5 in exchange for Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield, this marked only his second game with the team.
Porzingis admitted to struggling physically, stating, “My legs feel heavy. I’ll probably watch the film and be disgusted by how I moved.” He drew multiple fouls in the post and provided rim protection alongside Draymond Green and Al Horford in larger lineups. Coach Steve Kerr praised his impact, saying, “You can see what kind of weapon he is, and the kind of size he gives us.” The team is still adjusting plays to incorporate him effectively.
The illness sidelined Porzingis for six games, including a road trip to New Orleans and Memphis. Earlier diagnosed with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) by Boston Celtics doctors in the summer—a condition causing chronic fatigue—details emerged of conflicting reports. Kerr mentioned on radio that Hawks general manager Onsi Saleh claimed Porzingis did not have POTS, though he later retracted the statement. Porzingis dismissed any hard feelings, noting, “I told Steve it’s ok, and I know you didn’t mean to create hype around my health.”
Teammates appreciated his positive attitude during recovery. Draymond Green highlighted Porzingis's upbeat presence, saying, “He walks in with the same attitude, upbeat, same spirit.” Green also offered on-court advice, aiding Porzingis's integration. With Stephen Curry sidelined by runner’s knee, Kerr managed Porzingis's minutes in short bursts to build stamina.
Porzingis will sit out Monday's game in Utah but is scheduled to play Tuesday against the Chicago Bulls in the Bay Area. The Warriors, holding a 32-31 record and the eighth seed, have 19 games left. Porzingis expressed confidence, adding, “I’m ready to move forward” and believing he will regain full energy.
