Warriors center Kristaps Porzingis steps away from the NBA to focus on undisclosed health issue

Golden State Warriors center Kristaps Porzingis announced on Friday that he is stepping away from basketball to focus on an undisclosed health issue. The 31-year-old did not disclose the specifics of his condition but expressed disappointment that his body did not respond as expected during his final season with the team. Porzingis wrote that he was "not where I want to be to perform at the level I expect from myself."

Despite signing a two-year, $40 million contract with the Warriors in June, his status has been uncertain since late September when the team announced he would be out indefinitely. He was set to miss significant time following his trade from Atlanta during the previous season. The Warriors expected him to be ready for the upcoming season, but he has since been out of action.

In his social media post, Porzingis stated that he intends to collaborate with the Warriors to find a solution that suits everyone. He expressed gratitude to his family and supporters for their encouragement.