{"id":694596,"date":"2026-04-02T20:50:25","date_gmt":"2026-04-02T20:50:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/694596\/"},"modified":"2026-04-02T20:50:25","modified_gmt":"2026-04-02T20:50:25","slug":"the-golden-state-warriors-must-extend-kristaps-porzingis-the-lead","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/694596\/","title":{"rendered":"The Golden State Warriors Must Extend Kristaps Porzi\u0146\u0123is \u2013 The Lead"},"content":{"rendered":"

For as long as the Golden State Warriors have been in the Stephen Curry<\/a> Era, they have mostly lacked a shooting big man. Overall, centers who can both knock down threes and protect the rim are hard to come by in the NBA. With Kristaps Porzi\u0146\u0123is<\/a> on the team, the Warriors this season brought in a scoring threat who keeps defenses honest.<\/p>\n

But Porzi\u0146\u0123is\u2019 contract \u2014 which he signed<\/a> in Boston \u2014 expires at the end of this 2025-26 season. After that, he will become an unrestricted free agent. Porzi\u0146\u0123is will likely garner a handful of suitors, eager to acquire his two-way services.<\/p>\n

Given his impact on the Warriors in the short time he\u2019s been with them, the front office must extend him this offseason.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Latest on Porzi\u0146\u0123is\u2019 Health<\/p>\n

Kristaps Porzi\u0146\u0123is has wrestled with a laundry list of injuries since coming into the league.<\/p>\n

Most recently, the culprits were<\/a> Achilles tendinitis and an illness that was initially identified as POTS<\/a>. This is an illness in which the heart rate abnormally elevates after standing. However, recent reporting<\/a> suggests Porzi\u0146\u0123is may be dealing with another illness.<\/p>\n

The question has never been whether or not Porzi\u0146\u0123is has the talent to play for a championship team. After all, he recently won<\/a> a title with the Celtics in 2024.<\/p>\n

But one of the biggest question marks that has followed him the last several years is his ability to stay healthy. He hasn\u2019t averaged more than 30 minutes a game since the 2022-23 season. That\u2019s also the last year he has played over 60 games in a single season.<\/p>\n

Since he joined<\/a> the team in February after being traded from the Atlanta Hawks, he has worked alongside Warriors\u2019 director of sports medicine and performance Rick Celebrini<\/a>. Porzi\u0146\u0123is appears to have finally recovered from his ailments, a comeback he appears to largely attribute to Celebrini\u2019s help.<\/p>\n

\u201cRick\u2019s amazing,\u201d he lauded<\/a>. \u201cRick is the GOAT, man. Really.\u201d<\/p>\n

The 30-year-old finally feels healthy after a long bout of health issues.<\/p>\n

\u201cI believe I will be healthy now,\u201d Porzi\u0146\u0123is told<\/a> ESPN after his second game with the Warriors. \u201cThis is what I really feel. Not to sell anything because I\u2019ve been in and out, out again. But this time, I really feel this is it.\u201d<\/p>\n

He has yet to play in back-to-backs. The Warriors\u2019 medical staff continues to take a cautious approach with him. But Porzi\u0146\u0123is has played in four consecutive games, something he hadn\u2019t done in months<\/a>.<\/p>\n

His trust in the team\u2019s medical staff will no doubt be key in a potential re-signing with the Warriors this summer.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Valuable to the Warriors<\/p>\n

There are health risks involved with keeping the Latvian long-term; however, what Kristaps Porzi\u0146\u0123is has shown on the court is enough to warrant an extension.<\/p>\n

Porzi\u0146\u0123is has shone in his first 11 games as a Warrior. He\u2019s averaging 17.6 points and is converting 37.3% of his looks from beyond the arc. In a blowout 116-93 loss on Sunday against the Nuggets, he was the biggest bright spot. He poured in 23 points while connecting on all five of his three-point attempts.\u00a0<\/p>\n

A few weeks ago in Oklahoma City, the Thunder double- and triple-teamed him all night. It forced him to give up the ball. In the clip below, he had Jaylin Williams<\/a>, Aaron Wiggins<\/a>, and Lu Dort in his area. Porzi\u0146\u0123is found an open Brandin Podziemski<\/a> at the top of the key, who nailed a three-pointer. <\/p>\n

This is another example of how Porzingis’ size makes a huge difference. He has three guys collapse on him and is able to find a wide-open Podz for 3 pic.twitter.com\/c3uCCldUrm<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Dalton Johnson (@DaltonJ_Johnson) March 8, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

His ability to make the right reads when defenses focus on him is one of his most underrated skill sets. Porzi\u0146\u0123is can easily leverage defenses\u2019 tough cover of him, or get his own and score. He is both a threat in the low-post area and from three.<\/p>\n

It is important to note: his performances have all come without the team\u2019s two best players, Curry and Jimmy Butler<\/a>. When both return, Porzi\u0146\u0123is can make their life easier by spacing the floor on offense and protecting the rim on the other side. Curry and Butler can also give him more to operate by attracting defenders and commanding the brunt of the attention.<\/p>\n

Porzi\u0146\u0123is is best utilized as a supplementary piece, like he was back in Boston alongside Jayson and Jaylen Brown<\/a>. In the absence of Curry and Butler, he\u2019s been the primary option. Fans deserve to see what he looks like when shouldering a lighter load and playing alongside the greatest shooter ever. <\/p>\n

Porzi\u0146\u0123is also prides himself on being a player who can fit into any offense. His adaptability leaves more desire to see him play a full season with the team.<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel like I\u2019m the type of player that can fit into any kind of offense,\u201d Porzi\u0146\u0123is told<\/a> reporters in February.<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel like I’m the type of player that can fit into any kind of offense.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kristaps Porzingis on how he fits next to Steph Curry and in the Warriors offense. pic.twitter.com\/2kZC30S8EW<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Joseph Dycus (@joseph_dycus) February 8, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Porzi\u0146\u0123is Belongs in the Bay<\/p>\n

Extending Porzi\u0146\u0123is brings its risks for the Warriors. That said, he is proving he is still valuable to NBA teams.<\/p>\n

Even the franchise\u2019s superstar knows\u00a0Porzi\u0146\u0123is provides a different dimension that can help the squad. Curry described <\/a>his skillset and size as something that the Warriors \u201chave been looking for a while.\u201d<\/p>\n

The former Celtic brings championship experience and fills many of the team\u2019s voids. At 30-years-old with his extensive injury history, the front office may be able to bring him back for a number that works on the payroll. He is making<\/a> 30 million this season but could take a lesser amount on his next contract.<\/p>\n

Re-signing Porzingis won\u2019t guarantee that all is smooth sailing next season for Golden State, but it is a risk the franchise should take.<\/p>\n