Warriors get bad Kristaps Porzingis injury news before season opener vs. Lakers

Warriors get bad Kristaps Porzingis injury news before season opener vs. Lakers originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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The Golden State Warriors enter the 2026-27 campaign hoping to right some wrongs from a season ago and emerge as a legitimate dark-horse contender late in Stephen Curry’s career. 

While the seven-time NBA champions failed to make a game-changing offseason acquisition, they retained several key contributors from the 2025-26 squad, including do-it-all 7-foot-2 center Kristaps Porzingis. 

The Warriors traded for Porzingis midway through the year and signed him to a two-year, $40 million deal during the offseason. The problem is that the former New York Knicks All-Star has been a no-show during the preseason (one game remaining) due to a health issue, and his status for the Dubs’ season-opening matchup vs. the Los Angeles Lakers is in jeopardy.

“Golden State Warriors forward/centerWarriors get bad Kristaps Porzingis injuryKristaps Porziņģis, who missed training camp and the team’s first five (5) preseason games due to a health-related matter, returned to the Warriors’ practice facility yesterday and met with Warriors General Manager Mike Dunleavy and Vice President of Player Health & Performance Dr. Rick Celebrini,” the franchise stated in a press release.

“The specific contents of that meeting will remain private. Porzingis will remain out indefinitely due to the same health-related matter but will be around the team. An update on his status, including the potential resumption of practice, playing status, or timeline, will be provided when available and appropriate.”

While bringing Al Horford back into the fold won’t doom the Warriors’ frontcourt, it’s reasonable to assume Porzingis’ inability to stay healthy for an extended period is beginning to take a toll on the franchise. Various setbacks caused the 31-year-old to miss 50 games with the Atlanta Hawks and Warriors last year, and he may start the new NBA season on a poor health note. 

Golden State banked on getting a more durable Porzingis when they acquired him from the Hawks in February, and so far, it’s backfiring in the worst way imaginable.

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