Steve Kerr says Kristaps Porzingis doesn't suffer from POTS, per @WillardAndDibs
— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) February 28, 2026
"After the trade...I called Onsi Saleh, Atlanta's GM, and I asked, 'Is this POTS story real? ‘He said, 'It's actually not POTS.' So that was misinformation that was out there."
(Via @957thegame) pic.twitter.com/LHdtA8bFkz
Worth noting that Porzingis himself gave the interview that pointed to POTS.
— Brad Rowland (@BTRowland) February 28, 2026
The Hawks never used that diagnosis in any official way and steadfastly would not release any more information than simply calling it an illness. https://t.co/nlkXnVenQ9
Here's an October 2025 article by The Athletic headlined "With Kristaps Porzingis’ mystery illness solved, Hawks are primed for NBA hunt":
Doctors later diagnosed him with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, he said, more commonly referred to as POTS, an autonomic condition that can dramatically increase a patient’s heart rate when standing up instead of spread horizontal. Handled wrong — or not yet diagnosed — and POTS can lead to extreme exhaustion or dizziness....Post-diagnosis, Porziņģis and his doctors know how to manage POTS — and it’s without the need for any special medication. A high-salt diet and a more regimented non-basketball resting schedule is a must.
The San Francisco Chronicle yesterday:
Golden State Warriors big man Kristaps Porzingis doesn't have postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, or POTS, according to head coach Steve Kerr...."When I heard about the trade, I read about the POTS diagnosis and I called Onsi … and said, ‘Is this POTS story real?' And he said, ‘It's actually not POTS.' That was some misinformation that was out there. I don't know if anybody's asked him about it.
"I can't really say anything more on it," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. "It's a medical issue way beyond my capabilities explaining anything. He's sick. He won't play...."It was a stupid mistake by me to talk about something I'm not qualified to talk about"
(My memory is that Phil Jackson was basically laughed out of the league for trading away Porzingis.)