The Golden State Warriors have reportedly stopped paying Kristaps Porzingis his $20 million salary, ruling that the NBA player is not rendering his services. ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania reported, citing league sources, that the franchise has ceased semimonthly payments to Porzingis. The report also indicated that Porzingis is not actively disputing the lack of payments, nor does the NBA Players' Association plan to do so.
Porzingis has not played for the Warriors this season and stepped away from the team before training camp began. He is reportedly dealing with recurring symptoms tied to Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), a condition that can cause dizziness and fatigue.
In October, Porzingis addressed speculation about his health on X, formerly Twitter, dismissing online rumors about serious illnesses. "Hello people, I’m working with doctors and experts to figure out how to be fully back to good health asap. Honestly, I’m getting better and better," he wrote. "I just have to stay patient, and I believe I’ll be feeling great again soon."
He added, "I appreciate all the internet doctors trying to diagnose and help, but I’m in the best hands. So everyone can relax now and I don’t have HIV or AIDS."
Despite Porzingis appearing in only 74 games over the past two seasons due to health issues, the Warriors extended his contract with a two-year, $40 million deal in the offseason. Since his NBA debut with the New York Knicks in 2015, Porzingis has earned over $253 million. He won an NBA championship with the Boston Celtics in 2024, contributing 12.3 points per game during their title run.
The Warriors, who lost their first three games of the season, are currently on a five-game winning streak.