Kristaps Porzingis is still working his way back physically, but the Golden State Warriors center said he sees progress after starting in Friday’s 127-117 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves at Chase Center.
“Feeling all right,” Porzingis said after the game. “Step by step, trying to get back into really good shape. Still have a way to go for sure, but happy with the progress so far.”
The 7-foot-3 big man scored 20 points on 7-of-16 shooting while adding four rebounds and two assists in 22 minutes in his first start since arriving via trade from the Atlanta Hawks.
Porzingis acknowledged that the recovery process has been gradual. “I’m always like I always want to feel better and improve quicker,” he said. “But overall I think I have to also be happy with the progress, with the smaller progress but progress, and I know sooner or later I’ll get there.”
The Warriors have been navigating a difficult stretch, with injuries continuing to thin the rotation.
“Having so many guys out, Al going out today also is not ideal and we already short-handed,” Porzingis said, referencing Al Horford, who exited early with right calf tightness.
Despite the setbacks, Porzingis emphasized that the team must keep moving forward. “The games are going to keep coming no matter what,” he said. “Hopefully we get everybody back as soon as possible.”
Golden State dropped its fourth straight game and fell to 32-34, while Minnesota improved to 41-26 behind Anthony Edwards, who finished with 42 points, eight rebounds and five assists.
Porzingis said he believes the Warriors will better evaluate their potential once the roster is healthy. “Everybody healthy and then we could see how this team looks when everybody’s really healthy,” he said.
The Latvian center also addressed an upcoming road trip that will feature matchups against several of his former teams, including the New York Knicks, Washington Wizards, Boston Celtics, Hawks and Dallas Mavericks.
“All five?” Porzingis said with a smile when told about the sequence. “That’s wild.”
He downplayed any added motivation against former teams. “I wouldn’t say I put any extra emphasis,” Porzingis said. “Just games for us and some good teams to play against to measure ourselves against.”
Porzingis also discussed adjusting to his role as he rebuilds conditioning.
“I’ve started almost my whole career, but because of this I haven’t been maybe my usual rotations,” he said. “It’s normal. I have to work my way back into that, but it felt good to go out there and start the game for sure.”
The veteran said the offensive system is beginning to feel more natural as teammates learn how to play alongside him.
“We’re starting to develop a decent feel,” Porzingis said. “Guys are getting accustomed to playing with me, like knowing that I like to post up the free throw line, and we’re starting to develop some two-man games with Melton and BP.”
He added that the coaching staff’s philosophy has stood out.
“I have to give credit to the coaching staff,” Porzingis said. “They give us a lot of freedom and that’s really cool as a player to have that kind of freedom. We play pretty freely and improvise.”
Even as the losses pile up, Porzingis believes the team is still building toward something better.
“Losses are always tough,” he said. “We have to take it on the chin and try to improve for the next games.”
