Warriors Withhold Payments to Porzingis on $20 Million Salary as He Weighs Retirement

The Golden State Warriors are not delivering payments to Kristaps Porzingis on his $20 million salary this season, ruling that he is not rendering services, ESPN reported on Wednesday, citing league sources in reporting by Shams Charania and Anthony Slater.

Porzingis, 31, has yet to play a game this season. He has been away from the team since before training camp while dealing with recurring symptoms from an ongoing health condition, described in reporting as postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, known as POTS.

What the missed payments cost

Under the league rule for a player who fails to render services, the fine is 1/91.6 of salary for each missed game. For Porzingis, that works out to $218,341 per game on his $20 million salary for 2026/27, according to figures from ESPN salary cap analyst Bobby Marks. The salary still counts against Golden State's salary cap and tax apron even while the payments are withheld.

Porzingis signed a two-year, $40 million extension with Golden State in the offseason. The second year carries a $20 million player option for 2027/28, with only $3 million of that money guaranteed.

No void, and a trade still possible

Golden State has no current plans to void the contract, ESPN reported. The team will keep exhausting trade avenues ahead of the Feb. 11 trade deadline. A team that absorbs his near-expiring deal could move salary out in the trade and then clear a roster spot through a buyout.

Porzingis is not actively disputing the lack of payments, according to league sources cited by ESPN. He is leaning toward ending his NBA career and is contemplating retirement. Three sources told Jake Fischer of The Stein Line that they believe Porzingis would have strong interest in a buyout agreement that lets him keep part of his $20 million salary instead of fighting the game-by-game fines.

The numbers behind the choices

The figures shape the choices on both sides. Each missed game costs Porzingis $218,341 while the fines stand, and only $3 million of his second year money is guaranteed. A buyout that protects part of this season's salary would end the per-game losses. A trade would move the same contract, and the same questions about his health, to a new team.

A career at a crossroads

Atlanta traded Porzingis to Golden State on Feb. 5, 2026, in the deal that sent Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield to the Hawks. Across 12 NBA seasons, Porzingis has averaged 19.5 points and 7.6 rebounds per game.

ESPN first reported the withheld payments, with NBC Sports, USA Today, Bleacher Report and Hoops Rumors also reporting the details on Wednesday. The Warriors have not announced a decision on his contract, and the reporting describes a contract dispute based on league sources, not a ruling against either side.