SAN FRANCISCO — Golden State Warriors’ head coach Steve Kerr recently clarified his comments regarding Kristaps Porzingis’ diagnosis of postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) after he inadvertently labeled it “misinformation” during a radio interview on Friday.
Before the Warriors faced off against the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday, Kerr admitted to making a “stupid mistake” in referencing POTS, a condition that has significantly impacted the career of the 7-foot-2 center. Porzingis was unable to play in Saturday’s game, marking his third consecutive absence due to an illness that Kerr indicated was contagious and resulting in significant fluid loss.
Last year, Porzingis disclosed to The Athletic that he had been diagnosed with POTS, a disorder affecting the nervous system that can lead to an accelerated heart rate when a patient stands. During his radio appearance, Kerr stated that Porzingis’ absence from the court was unrelated to his diagnosis, citing a conversation with Atlanta Hawks general manager Onsi Saleh—who has a friendship with Kerr and previously worked in Golden State’s front office. Kerr claimed Saleh told him that Porzingis does not suffer from POTS at all.
“I called him and asked whether the POTS story was legitimate. He said it’s actually not POTS. That was some misinformation that was out there,” Kerr recounted. “Whatever was bothering him in Atlanta is separate from the illness he’s dealing with now.”
Following backlash from his comments, Kerr took a step back, emphasizing that discussing medical issues was outside his area of expertise. “It was a stupid mistake by me to talk about something that I’m not qualified to discuss,” he admitted. “I regretted even trying to address the diagnosis. I need to leave that to the professionals.”
Since joining the Warriors, Porzingis has played only one game totaling 17 minutes. He struggled last season as well while with the Celtics, participating in just 42 games, largely due to complications related to POTS. Despite ongoing concerns, Kerr noted that Porzingis returned to practice on Friday and appeared to be feeling better, though he did not provide a definitive update on his availability for the Warriors’ upcoming matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday.
As the team continues to monitor Porzingis’ recovery, fans hold onto hope that the talented big man will soon return to full health and make a significant impact on the court.