Steve Kerr Addresses Health Concerns of Kristaps Porzingis
During a recent interview, Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr recognized his misstep in addressing the health concerns surrounding Kristaps Porzingis. The team’s newly acquired center, who joined from the Atlanta Hawks shortly before the trade deadline, has faced challenges related to his health since revealing he suffers from postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) during his time with the Boston Celtics in the previous playoffs.
Understanding POTS and Recent Confusion
POTS is a condition affecting blood circulation and can trigger various symptoms upon standing. However, Kerr’s comments added confusion as Porzingis has been listed as out of action for three consecutive games due to an unspecified illness. In a discussion on 95.7 The Game, Kerr had alluded to his conversations about Porzingis’s health, saying:
“When I heard about the trade, I read about the POTS diagnosis and I called Onsi… and asked if this POTS story was real. He mentioned that it was actually misinformation, implying that whatever had kept him out during his time in Atlanta was unrelated to his illness this week.”
The coach further explained that Porzingis was indeed unwell, experiencing significant fluid loss and contagious symptoms, prompting the team to keep him home.
Kerr’s Reflection on His Comments
However, the following day, prior to the Warriors’ matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers, Kerr reflected on his earlier statements, stating:
“It was a stupid mistake by me to discuss something I’m not qualified to. I shouldn’t have gone near that topic; I need to defer to professionals regarding medical issues.”
He further clarified that he wasn’t in a position to provide explanations about Porzingis’s medical status and acknowledged that the player would continue to be monitored.
Porzingis’s Recent Performance and Future Outlook
After joining the Warriors three weeks ago, Porzingis has only competed in one game, sidelined due to an Achilles issue at the time of the trade, which delayed his debut. He returned to play on February 19 but has since missed three more games due to illness. Although he did practice ahead of Saturday’s game, Kerr noted that Porzingis’s potential return for Monday’s clash against the Los Angeles Clippers remains uncertain.
