Golden State Warriors center Kristaps Porzingis said he is stepping away from basketball to prioritize his health, according to The Guardian, which reported that the 31-year-old Latvian big man announced the decision in a social media post on Friday. The Guardian said Porzingis did not reveal the nature of the health issue.
The Guardian also reported that Porzingis left the door open to a return after a long absence. The summary of that report did not say how long he has been away from the court or whether a return date has been set.
Fox News reported that Porzingis cited his ongoing health struggles in his decision to step away. The headline of that report included the phrase "Not where I want to be."
Fox News also reported that the Warriors reportedly stopped his $20 million salary payments. The Guardian summary does not mention the salary, and the Fox News summary does not name the source of the report on the payments, so that detail rests on a single outlet.
The two accounts differ in emphasis. Fox News tied the decision to ongoing health struggles, while The Guardian said the nature of the issue had not been disclosed. Neither summary gives further detail about the condition.
The Guardian credited its report to Agencies, the byline listed in its source data, rather than to a named staff writer.
Sources: Fox News: Kristaps Porzingis stepping away from basketball amid health issues: 'Not where I want to be'; The Guardian: Golden State Warriors’ Kristaps Porziņģis steps away from basketball over undisclosed health issue.