Kristaps Porzingis said on Friday, November 6, that he is stepping away from basketball to focus on his health. The Golden State Warriors center gave no details about the health issue or any timetable for returning, moving his status beyond the team’s earlier updates that he was out indefinitely.

A change after weeks of uncertainty

The Warriors announced in late September that Porzingis would be sidelined indefinitely and would not travel with the team to Hawaii for training camp. He has not played for Golden State this season.

On October 14, the team said Porzingis would spend time with staff and teammates while still out indefinitely. That followed a meeting the previous day with general manager Mike Dunleavy and the team’s vice president of player health and performance, Dr. Rick Celebrini. About a week later, the Warriors said Porzingis would not be with the team for the immediate future. Coach Steve Kerr offered no further details before the season opener against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Porzingis’s latest announcement is his own account of the decision. He said his body had not responded as he expected when he increased his activity, and that he was not ready to perform at the level he expected of himself. He also said he intended to work with the Warriors on a solution.

What is known about his health

Porzingis did not identify the condition behind his decision or say whether he would resume playing. CBS Sports reported that he had previously disclosed a diagnosis of postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, or POTS. Fox News separately reported that he was dealing with recurring symptoms linked to POTS. His Friday statement did not say that POTS was the reason for stepping away.

In an October 14 post, Porzingis said he was working with doctors and experts and was getting better. That earlier update did not give a return date either.

The contract and the Warriors’ plans

Golden State signed Porzingis to a two-year, $40 million contract in late June. The Associated Press reported that the Warriors had expected him to be ready for this season. His decision now leaves that plan uncertain, while Porzingis says he wants to find a solution with the team.

Fox News, citing ESPN’s Shams Charania and league sources, reported that the Warriors had stopped making the semimonthly payments due on Porzingis’s $20 million salary. The report said Porzingis was not actively disputing the missed payments and that the players’ union had no plans to challenge them. That account is separate from Porzingis’s public statement; he did not address payments in it.