Kristaps Porziņģis has announced that he is stepping away from the game to prioritize his health, stating his body has not responded as he expected during his ramp-up period. The 31-year-old forward shared his decision in a statement posted to his X account on Friday.
Porziņģis expressed his disappointment, noting that he was looking forward to playing with the Golden State Warriors this season. "I know what it takes, and I’m not where I want to be to perform at the level that I expect from myself," he wrote. "At this point, I’ve made the decision to prioritize my health and step away from the game I love."
The statement concluded with Porziņģis emphasizing his respect for the Warriors organization and his desire to work with them to find a mutually agreeable solution. "Much appreciation to all of you for the support. Onwards and upwards."
Porziņģis has been away from the team while managing health issues. The specifics of his current physical condition were not detailed beyond his statement about not being able to perform at his expected level.