Kristaps Porzingis’ admission ahead of play-in vs. Clippers

Kristaps Porzingis is going to be a big piece for the Golden State Warriors if they’re going to make any noise in the Western Conference over the next few years. While he will be a free agent this summer, the Warriors didn’t trade Jonathan Kuminga for Porzingis simply for him be a rental.

The Latvian had a rough start to his Warriors stint, dealing with an undisclosed illness that he also dealt with back with the Atlanta Hawks and Boston Celtics. But the big man has found his health and his footing, and has played in 14 of the final 20 games of the regular season, getting back in game shape after playing just six games since November 28, 2025.

Ahead of the Warriors play-in game against the LA Clippers on Wednesday night, Porzingis admitted that, while he feels very good and ready for the do-or-die game, his health — and his game shape — may not be there 100 percent.

When asked about what contributes to his mobility defensively, Porzingis says he still needs to lose a little bit of weight.

“My weight and my rhythm,” Porzingis said. “Like I haven’t really played and I’m relatively healthy, I would say, aside from my wrist and this, but yeah I just need to lose a couple pounds honestly. Like, I need to, you know. And I know it sounds weird because all of my career, people have been saying, ‘you need to put on weight!’ but I’ve tried that. It doesn’t help my mobility. When I’m lighter, like how I was in Boston, it’s when I moved the best and when I’m most effective.”

In 15 appearances for the Warriors this season, Porzingis has averaged 16.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.1 blocks per game while shooting 43.3 percent from the field and 31.1 percent from three.

“Yeah, of course there’s still levels to get to defensively, obviously,” Porzingis added. “I haven’t been near my best mobility-wise just this last season in total, but for sure i’m looking forward to doing what I can on Wednesday. My length is still there, just anticipating things, making the right reads, being there for my teammates, all those things I can do.”

Porzingis played 57 games for the Boston Celtics from 2023 to 2025 in what were arguably the best seasons of his career. In the championship winning 2023-24 season, Porzingis played 57 games averaging 20.1 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.9 blocks per game while shooting a career-high 51.6 percent from the field and 37.5 percent from three.

Now alongside Stephen Curry, Porzingis will be asked to space the floor out and create offense for the Warriors out of the post.

Wednesday night’s play-in game between the Golden State Warriors and LA Clippers is set to tip off at 7PM PST on Prime. The winner will advance to face the loser of the Phoenix Suns-Portland Trail Blazers 7-8 game while the loser will be eliminated from contention and officially finish their season as the 10th seed in the Western Conference.

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