The Golden State Warriors Must Extend Kristaps Porziņģis

For as long as the Golden State Warriors have been in the Stephen Curry Era, they have mostly lacked a shooting big man. Overall, centers who can both knock down threes and protect the rim are hard to come by in the NBA. With Kristaps Porziņģis on the team, the Warriors this season brought in a scoring threat who keeps defenses honest.

But Porziņģis’ contract — which he signed in Boston — expires at the end of this 2025-26 season. After that, he will become an unrestricted free agent. Porziņģis will likely garner a handful of suitors, eager to acquire his two-way services.

Given his impact on the Warriors in the short time he’s been with them, the front office must extend him this offseason. 

The Latest on Porziņģis’ Health

Kristaps Porziņģis has wrestled with a laundry list of injuries since coming into the league.

Most recently, the culprits were Achilles tendinitis and an illness that was initially identified as POTS. This is an illness in which the heart rate abnormally elevates after standing. However, recent reporting suggests Porziņģis may be dealing with another illness.

The question has never been whether or not Porziņģis has the talent to play for a championship team. After all, he recently won a title with the Celtics in 2024.

But one of the biggest question marks that has followed him the last several years is his ability to stay healthy. He hasn’t averaged more than 30 minutes a game since the 2022-23 season. That’s also the last year he has played over 60 games in a single season.

Since he joined the team in February after being traded from the Atlanta Hawks, he has worked alongside Warriors’ director of sports medicine and performance Rick Celebrini. Porziņģis appears to have finally recovered from his ailments, a comeback he appears to largely attribute to Celebrini’s help.

“Rick’s amazing,” he lauded. “Rick is the GOAT, man. Really.”

The 30-year-old finally feels healthy after a long bout of health issues.

“I believe I will be healthy now,” Porziņģis told ESPN after his second game with the Warriors. “This is what I really feel. Not to sell anything because I’ve been in and out, out again. But this time, I really feel this is it.”

He has yet to play in back-to-backs. The Warriors’ medical staff continues to take a cautious approach with him. But Porziņģis has played in four consecutive games, something he hadn’t done in months.

His trust in the team’s medical staff will no doubt be key in a potential re-signing with the Warriors this summer. 

Valuable to the Warriors

There are health risks involved with keeping the Latvian long-term; however, what Kristaps Porziņģis has shown on the court is enough to warrant an extension.

Porziņģis has shone in his first 11 games as a Warrior. He’s averaging 17.6 points and is converting 37.3% of his looks from beyond the arc. In a blowout 116-93 loss on Sunday against the Nuggets, he was the biggest bright spot. He poured in 23 points while connecting on all five of his three-point attempts. 

A few weeks ago in Oklahoma City, the Thunder double- and triple-teamed him all night. It forced him to give up the ball. In the clip below, he had Jaylin Williams, Aaron Wiggins, and Lu Dort in his area. Porziņģis found an open Brandin Podziemski at the top of the key, who nailed a three-pointer.

His ability to make the right reads when defenses focus on him is one of his most underrated skill sets. Porziņģis can easily leverage defenses’ tough cover of him, or get his own and score. He is both a threat in the low-post area and from three.

It is important to note: his performances have all come without the team’s two best players, Curry and Jimmy Butler. When both return, Porziņģis can make their life easier by spacing the floor on offense and protecting the rim on the other side. Curry and Butler can also give him more to operate by attracting defenders and commanding the brunt of the attention.

Porziņģis is best utilized as a supplementary piece, like he was back in Boston alongside Jayson and Jaylen Brown. In the absence of Curry and Butler, he’s been the primary option. Fans deserve to see what he looks like when shouldering a lighter load and playing alongside the greatest shooter ever.

Porziņģis also prides himself on being a player who can fit into any offense. His adaptability leaves more desire to see him play a full season with the team.

“I feel like I’m the type of player that can fit into any kind of offense,” Porziņģis told reporters in February.

Porziņģis Belongs in the Bay

Extending Porziņģis brings its risks for the Warriors. That said, he is proving he is still valuable to NBA teams.

Even the franchise’s superstar knows Porziņģis provides a different dimension that can help the squad. Curry described his skillset and size as something that the Warriors “have been looking for a while.”

The former Celtic brings championship experience and fills many of the team’s voids. At 30-years-old with his extensive injury history, the front office may be able to bring him back for a number that works on the payroll. He is making 30 million this season but could take a lesser amount on his next contract.

Re-signing Porzingis won’t guarantee that all is smooth sailing next season for Golden State, but it is a risk the franchise should take.