Kristaps Porzingis discussed his return to the court following recent health setbacks after the Golden State Warriors’ 97-104 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday at Paycom Center.
“The last few days been like… I felt like my body is coming back to where I need to be,” Porzingis said. “Obviously it feel a little heavy and shots a little bit not in a good rhythm yet, and missing some free throws, but I’m going to build from this game.”
Porzingis confirmed that recent health issues are behind him and he is optimistic about maintaining consistency. “Some health stuff a little bit. I believe I will be healthy now. This is what I really feel,” he said.
The forward described the challenge of getting back into rhythm with limited preparation. “You got honestly just one workout in and felt pretty decent,” Porzingis said. “23 minutes… a little bit for sure, like leg feel heavy… but for first game, I think it was good just getting one practice in.”
Porzingis credited veteran leadership, particularly Draymond Green, for helping him adjust to the team’s system. “Draymond is super vocal… he reads the game so well, experienced. It’s nice to play with somebody so knowledgeable,” he said.
He also shared how Green has guided him on both offense and defense. “He’s helping me… to get accustomed to the team and what we’re running,” Porzingis said. “Whenever I have a question, he’s the guy that can give me some good insight on what we want.”
The Latvian big man acknowledged the role of the medical and training staff in restoring his confidence. “They’ve been super supportive… did everything possible, found a solution pretty quickly,” Porzingis said. “I feel good now and I can put this behind me.”
On the defensive end, Porzingis highlighted Green’s impact. “He’s probably guarding the other team’s best player every night… it’s a gift for us,” he said. “I feel like I’m a step slow… but that’s coming.”
Porzingis also addressed past miscommunications about his health, following Steve Kerr’s public comments. “I told Steve it’s okay… most important is I’m feeling good,” he said.
Looking ahead, Porzingis expressed excitement about building momentum with his new team. “It’s only 20 games left in the regular season… I want to catch a really good rhythm and see if we can do something in the postseason. I’m excited for the opportunity, excited to play with these guys,” he said.
