Kerr Walks Back Comments on Kristaps Porziņģis' Health, Gsw Coach Calls It a 'Stupid Mistake'

The gsw head coach issued a public apology after questioning one of his newest player's medical issues, a move that marked a sharp reversal following a radio interview and left the team managing both a high-profile acquisition and an ongoing illness concern.

Gsw coach's apology and how the exchange unfolded

Steve Kerr acknowledged on Saturday that he had made an error by discussing medical details he was not qualified to explain. He called his earlier remarks "a stupid mistake" and said he regretted trying to discuss the diagnosis, adding that such matters should be left to medical professionals. The mea culpa came after comments Kerr made during a radio interview in which he questioned whether a reported diagnosis was accurate.

What Kerr said about the POTS diagnosis and the Hawks' response

Kerr said he read about Kristaps Porziņģis' postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) diagnosis and called Hawks general manager Onsi Saleh to ask if the report was real. Kerr conveyed that Saleh told him the matter was not POTS and characterized the earlier coverage as misinformation. Kerr later described that exchange as poorly handled and outside his expertise.

Porziņģis' health timeline since the trade

Porziņģis, a 7-foot center acquired from the Atlanta Hawks at the NBA trade deadline, has been with the Warriors for more than three weeks but has appeared in only one game. He was dealing with an Achilles injury at the time of the trade, which delayed his Golden State debut until Feb. 19. After that debut he missed three straight games with an illness, and he missed a fourth straight game on Saturday, a 129-101 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, even though he practiced on Friday.

What POTS is and Porziņģis' own description

Porziņģis had previously revealed he dealt with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome while playing for the Boston Celtics in last year's playoffs. POTS is described as a non-life-threatening blood circulation disorder in which a number of symptoms can emerge when the subject stands up. In October, Porziņģis described how POTS affected him, saying it hit him hard and that his breathing was compromised, making it difficult for him to feel his normal level of performance.

Team perspective and next steps for availability

Kerr reiterated that the organization believed acquiring Porziņģis was prudent only because they thought he could remain healthy. When asked for details about what Porziņģis is dealing with, Kerr said the issue was beyond his ability to explain, noted that Porziņģis is sick and will not play that night, and said the team will continue to monitor him. Kerr also indicated a possible return in the team's Monday game against the Los Angeles Clippers, but emphasized ongoing evaluation.

Roster and injury context beyond Porziņģis

In addition to the Porziņģis situation, Kerr said he has had conversations with the team's injured veteran guard about that player's recovery. That guard has been dealing with runner's knee and the timeline for his return remains unclear in the provided context.

For now, the club is balancing caution with the desire to integrate a 30-year-old big man who has played only 60 games over the last two seasons because of health issues. The gsw medical staff and coaching staff are continuing to monitor Porziņģis' condition and availability, with details and plans subject to change as evaluations proceed.