Kristaps Porziņģis’ first game with the Golden State Warriors on Feb. 19 had the hallmarks of a player returning after a long absence. He showed flashes of potential in the game.
Porziņģis scored two post-up jumpers, drilled a 30-footer, and blocked a Nikola Vucevic floater. The Warriors outscored their opponents by 15 points in the nine minutes and 48 seconds that Porziņģis was on the court.
Porziņģis’ Impact and Health Concerns
Against the Boston Celtics, Porziņģis displayed the floor-stretching and rim-protecting abilities that earned him the nickname “Unicorn”. The Warriors traded for him despite questions about a mysterious condition that arose after he contracted a virus over a year ago.
Stephen Curry noted that Porziņģis brings a size and presence the team has sought. Porziņģis is considered one of the top ceiling-raisers in the NBA.
Even during his brief 17-game stint with the Atlanta Hawks, the team was a plus-49 with him on the court and minus-93 when he was off it. Availability has been a problem, as Porziņģis has missed 110 games in the past 2½ seasons.
Porziņģis said he was confident he would be able to stay on the court. He said he believed it was a great opportunity to turn a new page.
Persistent Exhaustion and Diagnosis
After addressing reporters, Porziņģis yawned. He apologised, seemingly concerned about appearing rude, before yawning again.
The yawns served as a reminder of the exhaustion threatening his NBA career. The 30-year-old was diagnosed with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) last year, an autonomic condition that can increase heart rate and cause dizziness and fatigue.
Porziņģis said he felt all right, but far from being in perfect shape. He believed it was a matter of time to get into a better rhythm.
Setbacks and Illness
Three mornings later, Porziņģis woke up sick in his hotel room and contacted the training staff. He went from being the focus of the game against the Denver Nuggets to being too ill to attend. A week later, Porziņģis practiced with the team and was upgraded to questionable.
The expectation was that Porziņģis would return against the Los Angeles Lakers. However, he was ruled out again with a general illness that Saturday afternoon.