Golden State Warriors center Kristaps Porzingis said he is making progress with an undisclosed health problem, while declining to explain what is keeping him away from the team. He also pushed back against online claims that he has HIV or AIDS, saying those claims are untrue.
Porzingis has not been with the Warriors during training camp and is listed as out indefinitely, according to the supplied report. With the regular season due to begin the following week, his absence has prompted questions about his condition. The report does not identify a diagnosis.
In a post on X, Porzingis said he is working with doctors and other specialists to return to good health. He described his condition as improving, while saying he needs to be patient. He also noted that dealing with an unclear health issue, alongside injuries over the course of his career, had been frustrating. He thanked fans for their support.
In a separate message, Porzingis addressed people he described as online medical speculators. He said he was receiving care from professionals and directly denied having HIV or AIDS. His comments did not provide further information about the health matter or establish a timetable for his return.
The Warriors knew about the health issue when they signed Porzingis to a $40 million extension this offseason, the report said. Of the $20 million he is due for the coming season, $3 million is guaranteed, according to the source.
Porzingis previously had an upper respiratory virus while playing for the Boston Celtics two seasons ago. The report said he has suggested that the illness had a lingering effect on his ability to play consistently, but it does not establish that the earlier virus is the cause of his current absence.
Last season, Porzingis appeared in 34 games for the Atlanta Hawks and Warriors combined. He has been in contact with Golden State coach Steve Kerr and Rick Celebrini, the team’s director of sports medicine and performance, the report said.
The cause of Porzingis’ current health problem remains undisclosed. He has said he is working toward recovery, but neither a diagnosis nor a date for his return was provided in the source material.
