Warriors' Kristaps Porzingis Battles Rare Condition POTS

UCSF doctor explains the challenges the NBA player faces with the neurological disorder.

Feb. 5, 2026 at 9:47pm

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Newly acquired Golden State Warriors player Kristaps Porzingis has been diagnosed with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), a rare neurological condition that causes dizziness, rapid heart rate, and fatigue when standing up. UCSF pediatric orthopedic surgeon Dr. Nirav Pandya explains that POTS can make it extremely difficult for athletes to perform at a high level, but believes the Warriors' renowned training staff, led by VP of player health Rick Celebrini, will be able to help manage Porzingis' condition.

Why it matters

POTS is an uncommon condition, especially among male professional athletes. Porzingis' diagnosis raises awareness about this neurological disorder and the challenges it can pose for high-performance sports. The Warriors' ability to help Porzingis manage his POTS will be crucial to his on-court success and the team's championship aspirations.

The details

Porzingis was diagnosed with POTS, a condition that causes dizziness, rapid heart rate, nausea, and fatigue when standing up. This is due to the body's inability to properly regulate blood flow and heart rate in response to changes in body position. The condition is much more common in women, making Porzingis' case rare for a male athlete. There is no cure for POTS, but managing symptoms through diet, hydration, and temperature regulation can help patients lead relatively normal lives.

  • Porzingis revealed his POTS diagnosis in the fall of 2025.
  • The Warriors officially acquired Porzingis in a trade on February 6, 2026.

The players

Kristaps Porzingis

A Latvian professional basketball player who was recently traded to the Golden State Warriors. Porzingis has been diagnosed with the rare neurological condition postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS).

Dr. Nirav Pandya

A pediatric orthopedic surgeon at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) who specializes in sports medicine and provided expert analysis on Porzingis' POTS condition.

Rick Celebrini

The Golden State Warriors' vice president of player health and performance, known for his ability to help injured players recover and return to the court.

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What they’re saying

“It's like the extreme version of standing up and feeling lightheaded, and that doesn't go away. It makes it very difficult to do things like sports and just, like, live your life day-to-day.”

— Dr. Nirav Pandya, Pediatric Orthopedic Surgeon, UCSF

“Looking at his ability to get athletes' back, it's pretty remarkable. The Warriors do get injured, but when players do come back, they very rarely have a recurrence, which speaks to their approach to injuries. They take longer to get back and people get frustrated, but when the people come back, they're on the court.”

— Dr. Nirav Pandya, Pediatric Orthopedic Surgeon, UCSF

What’s next

The Warriors will work closely with Porzingis to manage his POTS condition, focusing on diet, hydration, and temperature regulation to help him return to the court and perform at a high level.

The takeaway

Porzingis' POTS diagnosis highlights the unique medical challenges that some athletes face, even at the highest levels of professional sports. The Warriors' renowned training staff will be crucial in helping Porzingis navigate his condition and maximize his on-court potential.