Warriors Kristaps Porzingis injury update vs Celtics
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WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 16: Kristaps Porzingis #7 and De'anthony Melton #8 of the Golden State Warriors celebrate in the first quarter against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena on March 16, 2026 in Washington, DC.
The Golden State Warriors acquired Kristaps Porzingis to evaluate what they had. Seven weeks in, the evaluation appears to be going well on both sides.
Porzingis will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. The Warriors have a decision to make. And based on everything the 30-year-old said at practice on Thursday, Golden State has already made a strong impression.
What Porzingis Said About the Warriors
Kristaps Porzingis #7 of the Golden State Warriors
GettyKristaps Porzingis of the Golden State Warriors.
Porzingis has been open about what has drawn him to the organization. A significant part of it comes down to the medical and training staff, led by Dr. Rick Celebrini. When Porzingis arrived seven weeks ago, he had been dealing with tendinitis in his left Achilles. The way the Warriors managed his return has not gone unnoticed.
“Rick’s amazing,” Porzingis said Thursday. “Rick is the goat, man. Really. I’m very happy with these guys, and I’m sure they will keep me on the same path.”
That kind of trust matters. When Porzingis weighs his options this summer, confidence in a team’s medical staff will be a major factor in where he lands. The Warriors have already moved to the front of the line on that front.
He has appeared in seven of Golden State’s last nine games and feels like he is trending in the right direction. Back-to-back appearances could be next.
“I don’t know yet if I will get the chance, but maybe,” Porzingis said. “Doing pretty good and recovering well. The better I feel, the better I start to look. I’ll probably earn more minutes and then probably after that, the next step is to get a chance on a back-to-back. That’s what I’m working towards.”
SleeperWarriors
“Rick is the GOAT”
-Kristaps Porzingis on Warriors’ director of sports medicine and performance, Rick Celebrini
What Porzingis Said About Playing With Curry
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GettyStephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors.
The other piece of the equation is Stephen Curry. Porzingis arrived six days after Curry went down with a knee issue, meaning the two have yet to share the court. Their partnership exists only in theory so far. Porzingis is clearly eager to change that.
“He has changed the game,” Porzingis said of Curry. “To be on the same team, just to be around him, even without playing, it’s pretty cool. To learn from him, hear how he sees the game, it’s something you don’t take for granted.”
He also spoke to what playing alongside Curry would open up offensively. “Just more open looks, honestly,” Porzingis said. “It just simplifies it. It will just be more open looks for everybody. But also, learning his style a bit better. Because he moves so much. It takes a little bit of time to get a rhythm, to get a feel for where he’s running, what he’s doing and where he’s expecting the ball.”
The Warriors’ front office would clearly love to have footage of the Curry-Porzingis combination to study heading into the offseason. So far, that pairing has not materialized. A Curry timetable is expected to be released on Friday ahead of the home game against the Washington Wizards.
What It Means for the Warriors
The Warriors have nine games left in the regular season plus a play-in opener on April 14 or 15. Getting Curry back at any point in that window would give the front office something to work with as they assess what this roster looks like at full strength.
Porzingis is one of several key free agent decisions Golden State faces this summer. De’Anthony Melton has a player option. Al Horford has a player option. Keeping the right pieces together around Curry while Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody work through lengthy rehabs will define the offseason.
Porzingis is not publicly campaigning to return. But everything he said on Thursday points in one direction.
Final Word for the Warriors
Porzingis called Celebrini the goat. He called playing alongside Curry something you do not take for granted. He spoke about building a rhythm with a player he has not yet shared the court with.
The Warriors have made an impression. The feeling appears to be mutual.
Free agency arrives this summer. The conversations have not started yet. The foundation, however, is already there.