Boston Celtics
Porzingis has been battling POTS dating back to the end of his tenure in Boston in 2024.
Kristaps Porzingis made it official in a statement Friday: The former Celtic and NBA champion is stepping away from basketball.
Porzingis has been dealing with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) for over two years now, dating back to his tenure with the Boston Celtics. He was in and out of the NBA Finals series due to that illness, and it’s lingered through his time with the Atlanta Hawks and Golden State Warriors.
Here’s the full statement by Porzingis:
“This season I was really looking forward to running it with this group, but as I ramped up, my body didn’t respond the way I anticipated. I’m doing good, but I know what it takes, and I’m not where I want to be to perform at the level I expect from myself. At this point, I’ve made the decision to prioritize my health and step away from the game I love.
“In this situation, I want to show the utmost respect for the Golden State Warriors and work with them to find a solution that makes sense. I’m thankful to my family and close ones for always being there. Much appreciation to all of you for the support.”
Porzingis was arguably the heart and soul of the Celtics’ championship team in 2023-24. He was a fan favorite in Boston through the duration of his time in the organization. Even though he dealt with some injuries during his tenure, he was hugely impactful in the games he did play, stretching the floor and creating space for Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
He hasn’t been quite the same since his illness was first reported, and as he noted in his statement, his body is just not responding to him the way it once did. Porzingis’s situation is unfortunate and ongoing, with no clear vision for when, or if, he can return to the NBA.
In a case of bad timing at best, his now-former teammate Draymond Green addressed the Porzingis situation with a quite harsh perspective just before the statement was released.
“No one’s sitting around bashing this guy or even worried about him,” Green said. “In our minds, we’ve moved forward with the players that we have here. You can’t sit and worry about spoiled milk.”
Calling a sick player “spoiled milk” is certainly a choice, but Green has never been one to pull punches, even when it comes to his teammates.
Regardless of his Warriors tenure, Porzingis will always be remembered fondly by the Celtics faithful for the impact he made during his short run in Boston. Hopefully, a positive resolution to his health problems is still on the table, and he’s able to make one more NBA run before calling it a career for good.
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