Atlanta Hawks center Kristaps Porziņģis will be sidelined for at least two more weeks due to a mystery illness, according to reports. He has already missed seven of the team's last eight games and is undergoing further evaluation. The team is prioritizing his long-term health over short-term availability.
Atlanta Hawks veteran big man Kristaps Porziņģis is expected to miss at least the next two weeks as he deals with an ongoing mystery illness, per ESPN's Shams Charania. The 30-year-old Latvian has not played since December 5 and has sat out seven of the Hawks' last eight games. Prior to his recent absence, Porziņģis averaged 19.2 points and 5.6 rebounds over the team's first 13 games this season.
This is not the first health challenge for Porziņģis. During the 2025 NBA playoffs with the Boston Celtics, he struggled with lethargy and breathing issues, mustering only 25 total points in a second-round loss to the Knicks. He played fewer than 15 minutes in four of the six games and left Game 5 early, saying, “The breathing wasn’t good. I did everything I could potentially to feel as good as I could, but my engine wasn’t running the way I wanted.” Postseason, he was diagnosed with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), a condition causing rapid heart rate and dizziness upon standing.
Porziņģis managed his POTS through treatments like a high-salt diet and played for Latvia at the FIBA EuroBasket this summer, averaging 20.2 points and 8.7 rebounds over six games while leading the team to the Round of 16. However, after returning from four missed games in early December and scoring 25 points in a loss to the Nuggets, he stated the current issue is unrelated. “No, I wouldn't say it's the same thing,” Porziņģis said. “I just wasn't feeling too good, honestly. Just not being healthy, you know? But I wouldn't say it's the same stuff from last season, so that's good. I think I kind of put that behind me even this summer playing for the national team, but anyway, just catching whatever it's frustrating, you know? I want to be healthy. And I will be healthy.”
The Hawks, currently 14-12 after losing four of their last five, enter a game against the Philadelphia 76ers without their two-way contributor, who is in the final year of a two-year, $60 million contract. When healthy, Porziņģis provides double-doubles, 3-point spacing, and rim protection.
