According to ESPN's Shams Charania, Kristaps Porzingis's absence is about to extend for another two weeks. The Atlanta Hawks' center will undergo further testing to get a better read on the illness that has limited him to 13 appearances in his first season in the "Peach State."
In his last season with the Boston Celtics, Porzingis dealt with the autonomic condition, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, otherwise known as POTS. It zapped him of his energy, rendering the former All-Star a shell of himself in the playoffs.
It was an unfortunate and concerning way for his Celtics tenure to come to an end.
Kristaps Porzingis had an encouraging offseason before illness struck
As Charania reported, the seven-foot-two center and doctors found solutions over the summer to manage his health.
The Latvian native was able to represent his home country again at EuroBasket. A productive showing there indicated he was healthy and ready to help a Hawks team hailed as one of the offseason's winners.
When he's in the lineup, the tenth-year veteran has delivered the type of impact Atlanta was hoping for when it acquired him. Porzingis is averaging 19.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.6 blocks this season. He is also knocking down 36.4 percent of the 5.1 threes he is attempting.
As the Celtics experienced, the problem is the struggle to stay on the floor. Dealing with a physical ailment, like the foot injury that prevented him from playing for much of his first postseason in Boston, is one matter. Trying to get to the bottom of a lingering illness, after going through that same ordeal at the end of last season, is a far more serious one.
He recently told local reporters that this illness is not the same as when he was dealing with POTS during his final days with the Celtics.
"No, I wouldn't say it's the same thing," expressed Porzingis. "I just wasn't feeling too good, honestly. Just not being healthy, healthy, you know? But I wouldn't say it's the same stuff from last season, so that's good.
"I think I kind of put that behind me, even this summer playing for the national team, but anyway, just catching whatever, it's frustrating, you know? I want to be healthy. And I will be healthy."
Hopefully, the answers he and those evaluating him are searching for come during this two-week evaluation process. While the uncertainty surrounding this situation sparks concern and frustration, ideally, Porzingis will be back in the lineup, performing at his standard, in short order.