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Warriors big man Kristaps Porzingis
On Friday, during a radio appearance in San Francisco, Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr noted that the widely reported diagnosis that has been attached to big man Kristaps Porzingis–that he has a neurological condition known as POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome)–was not true. It was the Celtics that originally came up with that diagnosis, but citing a conversation with Hawks GM Onsi Salah, Kerr called it, “misinformation.”
Somewhere along the line, Kerr must have been told to walk that back, either from the Warriors’ medical staff or, more likely, from Porzingis’s people. Because he took a much different tone on Porzingis and his illness when he met with reporters before the Warriors’ blowout loss to the Lakers.
Porzingis, of course, is a major factor in whatever will become of the Warriors down the stretch and into the playoffs. He was acquired from the Hawks in a trade for former lottery pick Jonathan Kuminga at the deadline, but has appeared in just one game since.
Steve Kerr: Kristaps Porzingis Has ‘A Medical Issue’
Here’s the full tally of what Kerr had to say about Porzingis before the Warriors faced the Lakers, with Kerr noting that Porzingis is still not sure to play on Monday against the Clippers.
“He won’t play, he’s sick so he will be out. And we’ll see about Monday, we’re not sure,” Kerr said.
Asked about what Porzingis’s illness is, Kerr immediately deflected: “I can’t really say anything. Just, it’s a medical issue way beyond my capabilities explaining anything. He’s sick, he won’t play and we’ll keep monitoring.”
But one on-his-toes reporter asked a follow-up, calling out Kerr’s determination that the POTS diagnosis was “misinformation.” Kerr said: “It was a stupid mistake by me to talk about something that I’m not qualified to talk about, so I regret it. Even trying to discuss the diagnosis, that was my mistake and I need to leave that to the professionals.”
GettyHead coach Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors
Kristaps Porzingis Trade Has Gone Poorly for Warriors so Far
The move for Porzingis has painted Kerr and the Warriors into a bit of a corner. But that, the team knew, was always going to be a possibility. Trading for Porzingis was a high-risk, high upside gamble, but the Warriors are already afraid they’re going to lose that gamble.
Last week, one source said the team is, “concerned,” about Porzingis’ health, but added, “it was always buyer beware,” on Porzingis and that team still sees the deal as, “one that could still work out.”
The problem is that the Warriors will probably deal with this through the stretch run of the season and, should they get there, in the playoffs. Porzingis will need to be nursed along, and even when he is playing today, there is always the possibility he is out tomorrow.
Jonathan Kuminga Making Warriors Look Worse
Of course, part of the background of what’s happening with Porzingis and the Warriors is the fact that Kuminga is back on the floor and playing for the Hawks–and doing quite well, at least in two games. He scored 27 points in just 24 minutes in his debut, and came back with 17 points and nine rebounds in his first start in Atlanta on Thursday.
Kerr’s inability to find a role for Kuminga was a source of frustration both for Kuminga and for Warriors fans–so the more he plays and succeeds while Porzingis sits and recovers, the worse things look on Kerr’s behalf.
Sean Deveney is a veteran sports reporter covering the NBA, NFL and MLB for Heavy.com. He has written for Heavy since 2019 and has more than two decades of experience covering the NBA, including 17 years as the lead NBA reporter for the Sporting News. Deveney is the author of 7 nonfiction books, including “Fun City,” “Before Wrigley became Wrigley,” and “Facing Michael Jordan.” More about Sean Deveney
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