The Golden State Warriors have spent the past two weeks preparing for the NBA season without Kristaps Porzingis. Now, the organization finally has some encouraging news regarding its veteran center. After weeks of uncertainty surrounding Porzingis' health and availability, head coach Steve Kerr revealed Monday that the 31-year-old is expected to return to the team's facility Tuesday.
According to reports, Porzingis will meet with Warriors’ director of sports medicine and performance Rick Celebrini to determine the next steps in his recovery. Although the development represents progress, Golden State still does not have a timetable for when Porzingis will return to the court. The latest development comes just days after reports raised questions about Porzingis' whereabouts and communication with the organization.
According to Danny Emerman of the San Francisco Standard, the Warriors were uncertain about his exact location, the nature of his health issue and when he might return to the court. Although Kerr had exchanged messages with Porzingis and team medical personnel remained in contact with him, the organization still lacked clarity about his availability. Now, his expected return to the team's facility could provide some much-needed answers.
Porzingis has missed the opening weeks of training camp and Golden State's preseason games while dealing with an undisclosed health issue. General manager Mike Dunleavy initially announced Sept. 28 that the veteran center would be sidelined indefinitely, leaving the organization without a timetable for his return. At the time, Dunleavy expressed optimism that the veteran center would eventually rejoin the team, although he could not provide a return date.
The lack of information surrounding Porzingis' absence became a growing storyline as Golden State continued preparing for the regular season. According to reports, the Warriors had been uncertain about the center's exact whereabouts, the nature of his health concerns and when he might be available to play. However, the organization remained in contact with Porzingis throughout his absence.
Kerr previously confirmed that he had exchanged messages with the former All-Star, while Celebrini also communicated with him as the team continued monitoring his situation. Now, the expected meeting at Golden State's facility could provide the organization with a clearer understanding of his recovery and what comes next. For the Warriors, that clarity is especially important considering their offseason investment in Porzingis.
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