Porzingis Is Healthy Again. The Warriors Need Him to Stay That Way
Golden State doesn't need Kristaps Porzingis to look spectacular tonight against the Lakers — it needs him to keep showing up, something he couldn't do enough of last season.
Porzingis played only 32 of the Warriors' 82 games last season, yet posted some of the best efficiency numbers on the roster when he did take the court. Heading into tonight's preseason game against the Lakers, he isn't listed on the injury report, and with Jimmy Butler out until January and Moses Moody out until December, his availability now carries more weight than ever.
A Line That Looks Better Than It Reads
In the 32 games Porzingis did play last season, the numbers held up: 16.7 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.2 blocks and 2.5 assists in 24.0 minutes a night, on 44.6 percent shooting and 33.8 percent from three on 5.0 attempts a game. His true shooting sat at 58.2 percent, his usage at 26.5 percent, and his net rating at plus-3.0. The issue was never what he produced. It was how often he was around to produce it.
The Lineup That Worked
The clearest proof of fit came in a small sample: with Porzingis, Draymond Green, De'Anthony Melton, Gui Santos and Brandin Podziemski together, the Warriors outscored opponents by 17 points over 42 minutes across six games last season. That unit ran without Curry, which matters heading into a season where Golden State will lean on bench and mixed groups more than it has in years, with Butler and Moody both sidelined to open camp.
What Tonight Actually Tests
Porzingis isn't on the injury report for tonight's preseason game against the Lakers. That alone is worth noting, given Butler isn't expected back until January 2 and Moody isn't expected back until December 1. Golden State is paying Porzingis $19.5 million this season, with a $20.5 million player option for 2027-28, numbers that only make sense if he is actually in uniform.
The Verdict
None of this is about whether Porzingis can play winning basketball — last season answered that. It's about whether he can do it 60-plus times instead of 32. With two of Golden State's other top scorers already out for extended stretches, durability is the only question left for him to answer.
Is Kristaps Porzingis playing tonight against the Lakers?
He is not on Golden State's injury report heading into tonight's preseason game, though preseason health notes can shift quickly.
How many games did Porzingis play for the Warriors last season?
He appeared in 32 of the team's 82 games last season, averaging 16.7 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 24.0 minutes a night.
