Warriors star Kristaps Porzingis addresses 'internet doctors' amid health absence: 'I don't have HIV or AIDS'
Porzingis Addresses Health Speculation, Confirms He’s Not HIV-AIDS
Golden State – Kristaps Porzingis, the former Boston Celtics forward who signed a $40‑million extension with the Golden State Warriors this offseason, used his X (formerly Twitter) account to explain his prolonged absence from the court and to silence rumors that he has contracted HIV or AIDS.
In a series of posts posted earlier this week, Porzingis said he has been “working with doctors and experts to figure out how to be fully back to good health as soon as possible” and that he is “getting better and better.” He added that the “internet doctors” who have attempted to diagnose him should “calm down” and assured fans that he does not have HIV or AIDS.
“We appreciate all the internet doctors trying to diagnose and help, but I’m in the best hands,” Porzingis wrote. “So everyone can relax now and I don’t have HIV or AIDS.”
The Warriors’ big man has not appeared in training camp and his health condition remains undisclosed. He remains out indefinitely as the NBA regular season is slated to start next week, and the question of his availability has become a focal point for both Warriors fans and sports analysts.
Porzingis’s contract details were also highlighted. While he earned a $40‑million extension, only $3 million of the $20 million owed for the upcoming season is guaranteed. The Warriors reportedly knew of his health issues when they signed him and have maintained contact with the player through the organization’s medical staff.
A look back at Porzingis’s injury history shows that he has struggled with health concerns for a few years. Two seasons ago, while still a member of the Celtics, he experienced an upper respiratory virus that he said had lingering effects on his ability to stay on the floor. During the 2022‑23 season he appeared in just 34 games for the Atlanta Hawks and the Warriors.
He has kept the Warriors’ front office updated, including head coach Steve Kerr and the team’s director of sports medicine and performance, Rick Celebrini. The coaching staff has expressed optimism about Porzingis’s progress, though they have remained tight‑lipped about the specifics of his condition.
“We’re working closely with him and are hopeful for a return,” Kerr told reporters earlier this month. “It’s frustrating dealing with health stuff you can’t exactly pinpoint, on top of injuries throughout a career, so it has added up for sure, but we will get through it.”
Porzingis’s recent statement comes after a string of tweets from fans and commentators speculating that his absence might be linked to an HIV or AIDS diagnosis, a claim he has explicitly denied. His response, which included gratitude for fans’ support, also reminded followers that “health is wealth.”
As the Warriors prepare for the start of the season, the team’s roster still feels the void left by the absent center. Fans will be watching closely to see whether Porzingis’s health issues resolve quickly enough to allow him to contribute on the court, or whether he will remain sidelined as the season unfolds.
