Kristaps Porzingis will remain out indefinitely with a private health-related issue, the Golden State Warriors announced Wednesday, but the veteran center will remain around the team.
"I'm working with doctors and experts to figure out how to be fully back to good health [as soon as possible]," Porzingis said on social media. "Honestly, I'm getting better and better. I just have to stay patient, and I believe I'll be feeling great again soon."
Porzingis called general manager Mike Dunleavy on the eve of training camp and informed the organization that he wouldn't be reporting. He didn't attend the team's trip to Hawaii and missed the first five preseason games.
While his coaches and teammates were in Las Vegas for a preseason game against the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night, Porzingis returned to the Warriors' downtown San Francisco facility and met with Dunleavy and lead medical decision-maker Rick Celebrini.
In a statement, the Warriors said they'd keep the details of that meeting private, but Porzingis is expected to be in the facility and around the team as Golden State wraps up the preseason and prepares for the regular-season opener Oct. 21 in Los Angeles against the Lakers.
"It has definitely been frustrating dealing with some health stuff that you can't exactly pinpoint, on top of injuries throughout my career," Porzingis wrote in an X post. "So it has added up for sure, but we will get through it."
Porzingis is not yet cleared to practice, and the team said it would update his "potential resumption of practice, playing status and timeline" whenever available and appropriate.
Two seasons ago, Porzingis contracted an upper respiratory virus while playing for the Boston Celtics, and he has since vaguely revealed the lingering impact it has had on his health and his ability to consistently play NBA basketball.
Porzingis was limited to 34 games last season, split between the Atlanta Hawks and the Warriors, who traded Jonathan Kuminga for him in February. Golden State then re-signed Porzingis to a two-year, $40 million deal this summer.
The contract was structured strategically to allow the Warriors to trade him at any point and limit their long-term downside. Only $3 million of the $20 million next season is guaranteed.
In Porzingis' absence, coach Steve Kerr said he is leaning toward starting a smaller lineup of Stephen Curry, Brandin Podziemski, Gui Santos, Yaxel Lendeborg and Draymond Green.