Celtics Champion Kristaps Porzingis Makes Painful NBA Decision at Just 31

Former Boston Celtics champion Kristaps Porzingis has announced he is stepping away from basketball to prioritize his health at age 31. Porzingis, who joined the Golden State Warriors, explained in a statement that his body did not respond as expected when ramping up activity. While he has stepped away from playing, his announcement did not explicitly rule out a future return.

Porzingis signed a two-year, $40 million contract with Golden State during the offseason to play alongside Stephen Curry, but ongoing health issues prevented him from making his season debut. The Warriors previously ruled him out indefinitely in October. Porzingis previously helped the Celtics capture the 2024 NBA championship.