Stephen Curry is facing an uncertain start to the 2026-27 NBA season as the Golden State Warriors adjust to the indefinite absence of Kristaps Porziņģis. After the Warriors’ season-opening loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, Curry addressed the situation, acknowledging both the personal difficulties his teammate was facing and the basketball challenges facing Golden State.
“It’s a hard one for all reasons,” Curry said, according to NBC Sports Bay Area. He emphasized that Porziņģis’ health comes first, while also recognizing how much the team expected the 7-foot-2 center to contribute.
The uncertainty has become a significant concern for the Warriors. Porziņģis missed training camp and the preseason because of an undisclosed health issue, and the team has provided no timetable for his return. His absence leaves Golden State searching for answers in the frontcourt as the new season gets underway.
Curry acknowledges the personal and team impact
Curry’s comments reflected the difficulty of separating concern for a teammate from the practical demands of competing in the NBA. Porziņģis is dealing with an unresolved health matter, and his immediate availability remains uncertain.
The Warriors guard also explained why the situation matters to the team’s plans. “We always said availability was a big factor for our team,” Curry said, noting that the center position was particularly important to Golden State’s structure.
Curry’s response offered no new medical information about Porziņģis. Instead, it highlighted the challenge facing a team that prepared for the season expecting to have the versatile big man available. Golden State must now adjust as it awaits further clarity.
Porziņģis remains sidelined indefinitely
The Warriors announced in September that Porziņģis would be out indefinitely because of a health issue. He subsequently missed training camp in Hawaii and the team’s preseason games, leaving the coaching staff without an opportunity to integrate him fully into its plans.
On Oct. 14, Porziņģis visited the team’s facility and met with general manager Mike Dunleavy and Vice President of Player Health and Performance Rick Celebrini. The meeting provided an opportunity to discuss his situation, but it did not lead to a return timetable.
The situation changed again on Oct. 21, when Golden State said Porziņģis would not be around the team for the immediate future. The organization has maintained that discussions concerning his health and future will remain private.
The Warriors are still waiting for medical clarity
Porziņģis offered his own update on social media on Oct. 14, explaining that he was working with doctors and specialists to regain his health. He described his progress positively but also stressed the need for patience.
The center acknowledged the frustration of dealing with health problems that are difficult to pinpoint, particularly after experiencing injuries throughout his career. His comments suggested that he remained focused on improving his condition rather than rushing back.
Neither the player’s statement nor the team’s announcements established a diagnosis for his current absence or a date for his return. Until further information becomes available, it would be premature to assume when he might resume practicing or playing.
Why Porziņģis matters to Golden State
Porziņģis brings a combination of size, perimeter shooting and rim protection that can be difficult to replace. At 7-foot-2, he offers Golden State a different offensive and defensive presence from its smaller lineups.
His ability to stretch the floor can create driving opportunities for Curry and other perimeter players. Defensively, his length gives the Warriors another option for contesting shots near the basket, an important consideration against teams with powerful interior scorers.
Golden State’s plans, therefore, involve more than just replacing a center’s minutes. Porziņģis’ skill set could influence spacing, defensive matchups and lineup combinations. His continued absence forces the coaching staff to reconsider how it wants the team to operate.
Early results highlight the challenge
The Warriors opened their season with a 127-105 loss to the Lakers on Oct. 21. Los Angeles scored 66 points in the paint, illustrating the interior challenge Golden State faced without Porziņģis available.
Walker Kessler scored 26 points on 12-of-12 shooting in that game, adding to the pressure on the Warriors’ frontcourt. One performance cannot establish how the season will unfold, but it demonstrated the importance of finding effective defensive answers.
Golden State’s difficulties continued on Oct. 23, when the team lost 111-108 to the Memphis Grizzlies after surrendering a 12-point lead in the final 3:47. Curry scored 24 points, and the Warriors fell to 0-2.
Porziņģis’ recent history adds to the uncertainty
Porziņģis played for both Atlanta and Golden State during the 2025-26 season, appearing in 32 games and averaging 16.7 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists. His limited availability had already made his health an important consideration as he entered the new campaign.
The Latvian center joined the Warriors at the February trade deadline in a deal that sent Buddy Hield and Jonathan Kuminga to Atlanta. Golden State subsequently agreed to a two-year, $40 million contract with Porziņģis in June.
Porziņģis has also previously disclosed that he has postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, commonly known as POTS. However, the Warriors have not confirmed whether that condition is connected to his current absence, so the two should not be treated as definitively linked.
What happens next for Curry and the Warriors?
Golden State must prepare for upcoming games without knowing when Porziņģis will return. That uncertainty makes lineup adjustments and frontcourt depth particularly important as the team tries to establish consistency early in the season.
Curry remains central to those efforts, but even his offensive production cannot solve every issue posed by the absence of an interior presence. The Warriors need contributions from their available big men and improved execution across both ends of the floor.
For now, the priority remains Porziņģis’ health. Curry’s comments showed that the situation affects the team both personally and competitively, while the lack of a clear timetable leaves Golden State planning around several possibilities rather than a confirmed return date.
Fun fact: Kristaps Porziņģis earned the nickname “The Unicorn” during his rookie season, thanks to his rare combination of 7-foot-2 height, outside shooting and shot-blocking ability.
TL;DR
- Stephen Curry said Porziņģis’ absence is difficult both personally and for the Warriors as a team.
- Golden State has ruled out the center indefinitely due to an undisclosed health issue.
- Porziņģis is working with doctors but has not announced a return date.
- The Warriors lost their first 3 games of the 2026-27 season.
- The team has not confirmed whether Porziņģis’ previously disclosed POTS diagnosis is related to his current absence.
This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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