Al Horford Addresses Kristaps Porzingis Absence As Warriors Freeze Center's $20 Million Salary

Golden State big man Al Horford confirmed he has stayed in touch with Kristaps Porzingis via text while Porzingis remains away from the team and chooses not to challenge the franchise withholding his $20 million salary.

The unusual financial freeze has quickly developed into one of the most unexpected storylines across the entire league this season.

Porzingis has stepped away from the team indefinitely, casting major doubt over his immediate playing future and his career as a whole.

Yet even as the front office halts biweekly paychecks, the locker room is maintaining quiet support for the veteran big man.

A SILENT LOCKER ROOM CONNECTION

Speaking with reporters after Wednesday's team practice, Horford provided a rare glimpse into how teammates are handling the situation.

Horford explained that while lines of communication remain open, he intentionally avoids prying into Porzingis' personal circumstances.

"I've been able to touch base with him a little bit, not very much, some texts here or there," Horford said.

"That's really it. It's been a few weeks now."

According to reporting from Joseph Dycus of The Mercury News, Horford stressed that he must respect what is unfolding behind closed doors.

The veteran forward made it clear that he will wait for Porzingis himself to share any personal updates publicly.

Horford emphasized his complete personal support for Porzingis during what has clearly become a difficult ordeal.

The bond between the two frontcourt players stretches back well before their time together in the Bay Area.

Horford and Porzingis spent two seasons together as frontcourt partners with the Boston Celtics.

During that shared tenure in Boston, the two big men helped power the franchise to an NBA championship in 2024.

Now sharing a roster again on the West Coast, Horford is choosing patience and empathy over speculation.

WHY GOLDEN STATE FROZE THE SALARY

The contractual dispute began when the Warriors made the bold choice to pause salary payments on Porzingis' $20 million deal.

Under regular league standards, contracted NBA players continue to collect their guaranteed compensation while dealing with extended illnesses or physical injuries.

Even when an athlete faces a lengthy recovery timeline, guaranteed contracts typically protect those biweekly paychecks.

However, Golden State has argued that Porzingis is currently not rendering services to the basketball team.

Before the opening of official training camp, the organization announced that Porzingis would remain around the team while rehabbing.

Porzingis did hold an early meeting with the Warriors' front office and the team medical staff ahead of the regular season.

Shortly after that brief session, the 31-year-old center stopped reporting to team facilities altogether.

With Porzingis failing to return to the facility, the Warriors took decisive administrative action.

The franchise formally adjusted his team status, moving him from an initial listing of "general illness" to "not with team."

That strategic roster designation change effectively stripped away the team-approved justification for his continuing absence.

By categorizing him as not with the team, Golden State established the contractual basis to withhold his biweekly pay.

THE NBPA DECIDES NOT TO STEP IN

Under normal circumstances, withholding a player's guaranteed money would spark an aggressive grievance from the players' union.

Yet this standoff has taken an entirely different path.

Reporting from ESPN's Shams Charania and Anthony Slater reveals that Porzingis will not contest the financial freeze.

Furthermore, the National Basketball Players Association does not plan to challenge Golden State's decision either.

Sources close to both Porzingis and the NBPA confirmed that neither side intends to file a dispute over the withheld earnings.

This lack of union pushback indicates a mutual understanding regarding the unique realities of his departure.

Despite the withheld checks, the financial obligation has not completely vanished from Golden State's books.

Porzingis' $20 million figure still continues to count against the Warriors' total salary cap for the current campaign.

THE HEALTH STRUGGLE BEHIND THE SCENES

Porzingis has already been officially ruled out for the entirety of the current season due to a serious health situation.

The 31-year-old Latvian center has been navigating complex physical issues for the past year and a half.

His medical difficulties have included a battle with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, widely known as POTS.

POTS is categorized as a chronic disorder impacting the body's autonomic nervous system.

The condition frequently triggers an abnormal, sudden increase in heart rate whenever a person stands up.

Other debilitating symptoms associated with the syndrome include severe dizziness and persistent, extreme fatigue.

Porzingis previously spoke about battling complications following an illness contracted during his stint with the Celtics.

Even so, neither the Warriors nor Porzingis has confirmed whether POTS is the exact medical reason sidelining him today.

RETIREMENT QUESTIONS AND MEDICAL UNCERTAINTY

The ongoing physical toll has reportedly led Porzingis to evaluate whether he can continue playing professional basketball.

Reports indicate that the veteran big man is leaning toward walking away from his NBA playing career entirely.

Despite those indications, Porzingis has made no formal public announcement regarding an official retirement.

His quiet departure from the gym has instead left fans and league observers wondering what his next chapter holds.

The Latvian star first emerged on the global basketball radar as an elite prospect playing for CB Sevilla in Spain.

He eventually developed into a unique, rim-protecting perimeter shooter who earned All-Star honors during his NBA journey.

Now, chronic health struggles threaten to bring that high-level basketball journey to an abrupt conclusion.

TRADE DEADLINE REALITIES AND CAP MECHANICS

Even with Porzingis sidelined and unpaid, the Warriors have no intention of terminating or voiding his active contract.

Instead, general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. is actively studying the trade market ahead of the February 11 deadline.

The Warriors are deliberately preserving their contractual rights so they can explore potential moves across the league.

Golden State hopes to package the center's contract in a trade to yield assets that help their active roster.

For potential trade suitors, Porzingis' contract structure provides an enticing avenue for financial relief.

Porzingis initially signed a two-year, $40 million contract extension with Golden State back in June.

While the first year pays $20 million, the second year of that extension features just $3 million in guaranteed money.