“He’s Not Here”: Steve Kerr Shares Concerning Kristaps Porzingis Update as Warriors Brace Up for NBA Opening Night

The Golden State Warriors are halfway through their preseason games. One of their biggest concerns at the moment is the status of Kristaps Porzingis. Earlier this summer, Porzingis was listed as healthy and was expected to participate during the Warriors' training camp. However, on the day before the team's Media Day in Hawaii, the big man, who was central to the team's plans, suddenly suffered an undisclosed health issue, sidelining him indefinitely.

With the 2026-27 season around the corner, many fans are concerned about whether Porzingis will be able to play on opening night (Oct. 21 against the LA Lakers). In a recent interaction with the media, head coach Steve Kerr shed some light on KP's status.

"He's not here (at the Warriors' practice on Thursday)," Kerr said (via Warriors beat reporter Luca Evans on X). "I'll reach out to KP today and check in with him. But nothing new to report."

Another reporter in attendance then asked the Warriors' head coach if Porzingis is at least recovering from whatever his illness is.

"Yeah, we've texted," Kerr said. "He seems to be doing okay, but we haven't gotten into depth (with his health issues)."

Kerr then opened up about the challenges of missing key players heading into the upcoming season. Porzingis isn't the only one who's missing from the roster. They're also set to take on the new season without Jimmy Butler, who is currently recovering from a torn ACL. Then there's Moses Moody, who's also recovering from a ruptured left patellar tendon.

"Circumstances change every year," Kerr said. "You get thrown a lot of curveballs in this business. It's always the same mentality. It's next man up, prepare for what's in front of you, and support everybody who is not here, whether it's Jimmy or KP or Moses. We're always going to give our players every bit of support and help them be the best versions of themselves."

Among the three recovering players, though the team hasn't announced official return dates, Moody is the only one with a target return date. According to reports, he is eyeing a comeback in December. As for Butler, while January or February 2027 has been the target return date, there's no guarantee given the nature of an ACL injury.

Steve Kerr Sets Expectations For Warriors This Coming Season

Heading into the 2026-27 season, the Golden State Warriors still have Stephen Curry as the face of the franchise. Despite still being in the Curry era, we have to admit that the Warriors are no longer the elite team they once were when they won their last four championships.

Curry is now in his twilight years; meanwhile, his longtime teammate, Draymond Green, is also steadily declining in terms of production on the hardwood. Having that in mind, it's essential that the rest of the Warriors roster steps up to help the Golden State veterans.

In a recent interview with NBC Sports, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr opened up about what the team has been lacking in recent years and how he plans to make adjustments in the upcoming season.

"We have to reimagine our way of operating both on and off the court," Kerr said. "We've had a formula here that has been wildly successful. Some of those values we have to get back to. I think we've got to tighten the ship a little bit. But I think we also have to change some things on the court."

"The game has changed quite a bit. It's gotten faster; it's gotten more spread out. I think how we practice and how we teach the players, film sessions, walkthroughs, detail. We're undergoing some major changes in that regard, and that's my message to the team on Day 1," Kerr added.

After an underwhelming offseason, failing to stack up on extra talent to help bolster the roster, it'll be interesting to see how coach Kerr will navigate his team throughout the regular season.