Kristaps Porziņģis reveals POTS diagnosis, says he’s full-go for Hawks: what it means for Atlanta’s frontcourt

Kristaps Porziņģis ended months of speculation on Wednesday, October 22 (ET), disclosing that the illness that derailed parts of his 2025 postseason was postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS). The All-Star big, now with the Atlanta Hawks after a July trade, emphasized that he’s managing the condition and ready for regular-season action this week. The update provides clarity for fans who watched him exit and then play limited minutes during last spring’s series before his summer move to Atlanta.

Kristaps Porziņģis health update: clarity after a baffling spring

Porziņģis said testing over the summer identified POTS as the cause of the symptoms—spiking heart rate, dizziness, and fatigue—that forced him out of Game 1 against New York in May and curtailed his minutes early in that series. With a tailored treatment plan in place, he took part in training camp and preseason without restriction and has targeted a full workload as the 2025–26 season tips off.

What is POTS, briefly? It’s a dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system in which standing can trigger an abnormally high heart rate, often accompanied by lightheadedness and exercise intolerance. For athletes, the practical questions are about conditioning and recovery; management typically involves hydration, salt intake, compression, and individualized medical oversight. Porziņģis’ recent training load and game action suggest those boxes are checked.

Fit with the Hawks: spacing, rim deterrence, and two-man game options

Atlanta acquired Kristaps Porziņģis in July to add elite shooting and size to a young core. At 7-foot-3 with deep range, he forces bigs to defend 25 feet from the rim, opening driving lanes for the Hawks’ guards and wings. Offensively, expect frequent pick-and-pop looks and ghost screens to spring shooters; defensively, the emphasis will be drop coverage with selective switches, leveraging Porziņģis’ length to deter at the cup while protecting him from the most punishing perimeter matchups.

The Hawks also value his late-clock shot creation—short-roll jumpers and post touches against switches—plus his free-throw rate, which stabilizes scoring when half-court possessions bog down. Coaches have hinted at mixing in five-out groups that let Porziņģis anchor the arc and pull traditional centers off the floor.

Early form and usage: signs from preseason

Porziņģis’ preseason minutes tracked like a starter’s dress rehearsal: efficient touches inside and out, double-digit rebounding, and a steady dose of pick-and-pop threes. The staff ramped him to late-20s minutes, a signal he’s cleared for normal rotation duty. Expect Atlanta to monitor back-to-backs in October and November, but absent setbacks, the plan is a standard starting role with closing-lineup flexibility depending on opponent spacing.

Contract and timeline: flexibility now, options later

Porziņģis is on an expiring contract in Atlanta, a structure that gives both sides flexibility. Team officials have left the door open to in-season extension talks if the on-court partnership clicks, while maintaining cap optionality should the market dictate a different path. For the player, proving sustained health and impact in a featured role could maximize long-term outcomes.

Key dates for the Kristaps Porziņģis story

• May 2025: Leaves early vs. New York with illness; limited minutes thereafter.

• July 7, 2025: Trade to Atlanta is finalized as part of a three-team deal.

• October 17, 2025: Strong preseason close signals full participation.

• October 22–23, 2025: Publicly identifies POTS as the spring diagnosis; says he’s ready for the opener.

What to watch next for Porziņģis and Atlanta

1. Minute management: Whether he sits one half of back-to-backs early, then scales toward 30–32 minutes as conditioning builds.

2. Pick-and-pop volume: Atlanta’s offense hums when Porziņģis drags the opposing five to the arc; expect a steady diet of trail threes and elbow pops.

3. Rim-defense metrics: Opponent field-goal percentage at the rim and foul rate will tell the story of how sustainable the defensive scheme is with him anchoring it.

4. Extension chatter: If the Hawks start fast and Porziņģis stacks healthy games, extension momentum could arrive before the new year.

The headline for Atlanta is simple: Kristaps Porziņģis is available, has an explanation for last spring, and looks like himself. If his shooting gravity and rim deterrence hold over 70-plus games, the Hawks’ ceiling in the East rises meaningfully.