Gsw coach Kerr walks back comments on Kristaps Porzingis, gsw apology follows
Golden State coach Steve Kerr walked back radio comments about Kristaps Porzingis’ health and issued an apology as the center missed a fourth straight game listed as a general illness. The gsw coach said he was wrong to discuss the diagnosis and that Porzingis would remain under medical monitoring.
Kerr’s initial radio comments
Kerr drew scrutiny after appearing on local Bay Area radio and questioning the accuracy of Porzingis’ postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome diagnosis. Kerr said, “I read about the POTS diagnosis and called the Hawks [general manager] Onsi Saleh. He's a good friend of mine and I said 'Is this POTS story real?' He said it's actually not POTS. That was some misinformation that was out there. ”
Gsw illness and availability
Porzingis, a 7-footer, missed a fourth consecutive game Saturday night against the Los Angeles Lakers and the team listed the reason as a general illness. Kerr said, “I can't really say anything more on it, ” and added, “It's a medical issue way beyond my capabilities explaining anything. He's sick. He won't play. We will keep monitoring him. ” The center had practiced Friday but did not play in the 129-101 loss on Saturday.
Kerr’s public mea culpa
A day after the radio comments, Kerr acknowledged his mistake when asked to clarify before Saturday's game: “It was a stupid mistake by me to talk about something I'm not qualified to talk about. Even trying to discuss the diagnosis, that was a mistake. I need to leave that to professionals. ” In a separate remark when pressed for details he said, “It's a medical issue way behind my capabilities of explaining anything. He's sick, he won't play, we'll keep monitoring. ”
Porzingis’ recent history and injuries
Porzingis first began struggling with an elongated illness in his final season with the Boston Celtics, and Boston's doctors identified POTS as the cause. He was limited to 17 games this season in Atlanta in part due to illness. The Warriors acquired Porzingis at the February trade deadline from Atlanta for Jonathan Kuminga; he was dealing with an Achilles injury at the time of the trade, which delayed his Golden State debut to Feb. 19.
Playing time and perspectives
Porzingis has only appeared in one of his first eight games with the Warriors and has been a member of the team for more than three weeks, yet has played just one game. Kerr has said the organization wouldn't have made the trade if it did not believe Porzingis could stay healthy. Kerr also expanded on why the team felt comfortable acquiring the 30-year-old big man, noting the recent absence was unrelated to the POTS diagnosis and saying, “whatever was bothering him in Atlanta that was keeping him out had nothing to do with the illness last week. So he was just sick. There's a lot going around, as you guys know, and he was sick enough where he was losing a lot of fluid and contagious, so we just kept him home. ”
Porzingis’ own account and other updates
Porzingis previously described the impact of POTS in October, saying, “It hit me, and it hit me like a truck. The breathing wasn’t good. I did everything I could potentially to feel as good as I could, but my engine wasn’t running the way I wanted. ” Since joining the team he has praised the training staff and said he feels confident he can stay healthy, but it remains unclear when his return will be possible. Kerr said Porzingis' status for Monday's game against the Clippers is still to be determined.
In other injury-related comments, Kerr said during his radio interview Friday he has had conversations with injured star Stephen Curry, but he does not know when the 37-year-old will be back on the floor. Curry has been dealing with runner's knee for the past mont.
A photograph credit in coverage noted D. Ross Cameron / Imagn Images and highlighted that Porzingis has played just one game with the Warriors since being acquired at the trade deadline.
Kerr’s reversal and Porzingis' continued monitoring leave the team awaiting clearer medical updates before the Clippers game.
