By Field Level Media
Nov 04 (Field Level Media) – The Golden State Warriors have been withholding payments to center Kristaps Porzingis while he remains away from the team, ESPN reported Wednesday.
League sources told ESPN that the semimonthly payments on the veteran’s $20 million salary aren’t being delivered because he is not rendering his services.
The Warriors announced on Oct. 14 that Porzingis, 31, would be sidelined indefinitely due to an undisclosed health issue. He has missed the team’s first eight games and has not been around the team facility to work with the medical staff on his recovery, so the team no longer considers it an excused absence, per the report.
Porzingis signed a two-year, $40 million extension with the Warriors this summer that includes only $3 million guaranteed in the second season.
General manager Mike Dunleavy has said the Warriors are actively pursuing trade possibilities.
Porzingis said in 2025 that he was diagnosed with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), a nervous system disorder that can affect heart rate and blood flow. It is unclear whether the condition is related to his latest absence.
He played in only 32 games (23 starts) last season between the Hawks and the Warriors. He was acquired by Golden State in a February trade that sent Buddy Hield and Jonathan Kuminga to Atlanta.
Porzingis missed more regular-season games for Golden State (16) than he played (15), though he started both play-in games. For the season, he averaged 16.7 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists.
An All-Star in 2017-18, Porzingis has career averages of 19.5 points and 7.6 rebounds in 533 games (523 starts) with the New York Knicks, Dallas Mavericks, Washington Wizards, Boston Celtics, Hawks and Warriors. He won a ring with Boston in 2023-24.
(–Field Level Media)
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