Porzingis steps away from the NBA, and the Warriors stop paying his $20 million salary

Golden State Warriors center Kristaps Porzingis announced Friday that he is stepping away from basketball, ESPN reported. It is not an official retirement. AP News, Reuters and the New York Daily News also reported the news.

What he said

ESPN quotes Porzingis: "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 of myself." He also wrote that he wants to "show the utmost respect for the Golden State Warriors and work with them to find a solution that makes sense." The health issue has not been disclosed. ESPN says he has dealt with persistent health problems since a viral illness two seasons ago, plus several leg injuries over an 11-year career.

The timeline

He signed a two-year, $40 million extension with the Warriors in late June and said he intended to play this season. ESPN reports that two days before the first practice he told general manager Mike Dunleavy he would not report. The team let him stay away for two weeks, met with him in early October, and expected him around the team. He left again after that meeting.

The money

• The Warriors have not been paying him on his $20 million salary, and ESPN says neither Porzingis nor the players' association is contesting that.
• The team has no plan to void the contract, per team sources, and can still use the $20 million salary in a trade ahead of the February deadline.
• Only $3 million of his salary next season is guaranteed. ESPN says he is expected to be open to a buyout after any trade, which would save a team more than that $3 million.

ESPN's read is that this could make him an appealing contract for a rival trying to shed longer-term salary or save money now. No trade market has formed yet.

What it means on the court

Golden State is 6-3 and has won six straight without him. The open question is whether the front office can turn a $20 million salary slot into help before February. Standings and results are on our NBA scores and schedule pages.

Sources: ESPN, Anthony Slater, Nov. 6, 2026; AP News, Reuters and New York Daily News headlines. This is news reporting, not betting or investment advice.