Kristaps Porzingis says he will 'step away' from basketball in wake of lingering health issues

Kristaps Porzingis is stepping away from NBA play while dealing with ongoing health issues, the veteran center announced Friday.

In a statement on social media, Porzingis said that he was not able to play at the level he hoped, and had decided to focus on his health.

“This season I was really looking forward to running it with this group, but as I ramped up, my body didn’t respond the way I anticipated,” Porzingis wrote. “I’m doing good, but I know what it takes, and I’m not where I want to be to perform at the level that I expect from myself. At this point, I’ve made the decision to prioritize my health and step away from the game I love.”

Porzingis, who signed a two-year, $40 million contract with the Golden State Warriors this summer, said that he hopes to work with the Warriors to “find a solution that makes sense” going forward. The center has been indefinitely away from the team this season while dealing with his health.

This story will be updated.

https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/article/kristaps-porzingis-says-he-will-step-away-from-basketball-in-wake-of-lingering-health-issues-214411265.html