The Golden State Warriors are withholding salary payments to veteran center Kristaps Porziņģis while he remains away from the team, according to reporting Wednesday, November 4, from ESPN, subsequently corroborated by Reuters. League sources cited in the report say Golden State no longer considers his absence excused because he has not been providing services to the organization. Porziņģis is due $20 million this season under the two-year, $40 million contract extension he signed during the summer.
The 31-year-old has missed Golden State’s first eight games of the 2026-27 season. The Warriors announced October 14 that he would remain sidelined indefinitely because of a health-related matter, but the specifics of that situation have not been made public. Wednesday’s report concerns the team’s handling of his contract, not a newly confirmed medical diagnosis. Porziņģis has previously discussed health challenges, yet no official timeline for his return has been established.
The dispute also creates a complicated roster decision. General manager Mike Dunleavy has acknowledged that Golden State is examining trade possibilities, and the veteran’s contract includes just $3 million guaranteed for next season. A deal, however, has not been announced, and withholding payments does not mean he has been released. For a Warriors team trying to contend with Stephen Curry, the immediate basketball question is how the frontcourt will function without a player the organization expected to help stretch the floor and protect the rim.