SAN FRANCISCO — The Golden State Warriors have suffered an early setback ahead of the new NBA season as Kristaps Porzingis has been ruled out indefinitely due to a health issue, according to ESPN reporter Anthony Slater. The Latvian center will miss the opening of training camp and will not travel with the team to Hawaii, adding uncertainty to Golden State's preparations and frontcourt depth.
Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy said the situation developed unexpectedly. Porzingis had been on the court the previous week and had received full medical clearance, but Dunleavy was informed the day before his comments that the veteran center was dealing with a health issue. The sudden development leaves Golden State without one of its key frontcourt options as the team begins preparations for the upcoming campaign.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding his availability, Dunleavy stressed the absence should not necessarily be interpreted as an indication he will miss the start of the regular season. “I’m not marking him down as being out to start the season or anything like that,” Dunleavy said. “He’s just not available this week.” The Warriors will take a cautious approach while monitoring Porzingis’ condition, with no definitive timeline for his return currently established.