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oct 13 2026A week before the season starts, the Golden State Warriors remain uncertain about when they can count on Kristaps Porzingis. The Latvian center has missed the first two weeks of preseason due to a private health matter the franchise has not disclosed further. Steve Kerr confirmed that Porzingis returns this Tuesday to the Warriors' San Francisco training facility to meet with Rick Celebrini, the team's medical director, while the team plays a preseason game in Las Vegas.
The meeting is another step in the evaluation process, but it does not signal an immediate return. Over these two weeks, Porzingis has maintained contact with Celebrini and the front office, which, according to ESPN, has asked Kerr and the roster to stay focused on the season and not get distracted by the uncertainty.
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In the meantime, Kerr is already working on a plan without him. The head coach acknowledged that he values a small-ball lineup featuring Stephen Curry, Brandin Podziemski, Gui Santos, Yaxel Lendeborg, and Draymond Green, with Green as the only big man. It's a solution the Warriors know well and would allow them to start the season without depending on the Latvian's availability.
Porzingis's availability was already one of the major question marks for the project. He arrived in Golden State in February in the trade that sent Jonathan Kuminga to Atlanta, and last season he played just 34 games between the Hawks and the Warriors. Still, the team committed to his continuity this offseason with a two-year, $40 million contract, though structured to limit risk: only a small portion of his salary is guaranteed.
