New details have emerged surrounding the health of Kristaps Porzingis after mystery issues saw him away from the Golden State Warriors in preseason.
Porzingis issued an update last week ahead of the new NBA season stating he was working on getting ‘fully back to good health’ and denying having HIV or AIDs in response to internet conspiracy theories.
The Latvian, 31, will not travel with the Warriors to begin their campaign against the Los Angeles Lakers.
And ESPN has now revealed Porzingis is dealing with recurring symptoms from an autoimmune condition he was diagnosed with last year. Porzingis has POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome) and is said to be seriously considering his future in basketball.
Amid the huge uncertainty over his future, the Golden State Warriors are reportedly trying to trade the center away to another team.
Porzingis signed a two-year, $40 million contract with the Warriors earlier this summer, but with trade-friendly terms including the second year being a player option.
Kristaps Porzingis could be traded by the Golden State Warriors as he deals with a health issue
Porzingis signed a two-year, $40M contract with the Golden State Warriors earlier this year
However, even if he is traded, it is claimed he could step away from basketball for an indefinite period of time, potentially permanently, if there is no breakthrough in his unspecified symptoms.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, ‘postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is a condition that causes a number of symptoms when you transition from lying down to standing up, such as a fast heart rate, dizziness and fatigue.
‘While there’s no cure, several treatments and lifestyle changes can help manage the symptoms of POTS.’
The condition is ‘fairly common’, impacting over 500,000 people in the United States, with most cases in females aged 15 to 50. Each case is different, but ‘strenuous exercise’ is listed among the potential triggers for symptoms.
Porzingis’ indefinite absence from the team sparked much speculation before he returned to the facility ahead of the new season.
He provided an update on social media on October 14 and wrote: ‘Hello people, I’m working with doctors and experts to figure out how to be fully back to good health asap.
‘Honestly, I’m getting better and better. I just have to stay patient, and I believe I’ll be feeling great again soon.
‘It has definitely been frustrating dealing with some health stuff that you can’t exactly pinpoint, on top of injuries throughout my career, so it has added up for sure, but we will get through it
‘Health is wealth. Thank you for all the support. I appreciate all the internet doctors trying to diagnose and help, but I’m in the best hands.
‘So everyone can relax now…and I don’t have HIV or AIDS.’
