Warriors Adjust Frontcourt as Porzingis Remains Sidelined
Gui Santos and Yaxel Lendeborg are expected to step into starting roles as the regular season begins.
Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Basketball
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Golden State Warriors frontcourt depth will be tested as Kristaps Porzingis remains sidelined indefinitely due to an ongoing health-related matter. The absence follows a pattern of health struggles for the player over the last two seasons.
Why it matters
The Warriors face a rotation shakeup as they prepare for the start of the regular season without a key frontcourt presence. This health-related absence leaves the team to rely on younger rotation players and manage established veterans differently than planned.
Kristaps Porzingis has missed 5 preseason games and continues to experience recurring health struggles spanning 2 seasons. The team has not yet provided a date for his return to the court.
The players
Kristaps Porzingis
A frontcourt player for the Golden State Warriors currently sidelined indefinitely due to illness.
Gui Santos
A forward for the Warriors expected to receive increased playing time and start the regular season.
Yaxel Lendeborg
A Warriors player tapped to step into a starting role during the frontcourt rotation adjustment.
Al Horford
A veteran teammate who will have his court time capped at 20 minutes while the roster adjusts.
The details
Following a five-game absence during the preseason, the Warriors have confirmed that Porzingis is out indefinitely. In his absence, Gui Santos and Yaxel Lendeborg are expected to step into starting roles for the regular season. Additionally, Al Horford will face a playing time restriction of 20 minutes as the team adjusts its rotation.
Timeline
Porzingis missed the first five games of the preseason.
Santos and Lendeborg are expected to start the upcoming regular season.
Across the Bay
This roster shift follows the pattern of medical load management and health-related personnel changes established in recent Warriors seasons. The team is now balancing veteran availability against the need for frontcourt production to fill the current void.
Fans attending the start of the regular season can expect to see increased minutes for Gui Santos and Yaxel Lendeborg in the paint. With Al Horford limited to 20 minutes, the team will lean heavily on this younger rotation to anchor the frontcourt.
The takeaway
The team's success in the early regular season now depends on how effectively the frontcourt rotation compensates for the indefinite loss of a primary starter. Keep an eye on the box scores for Santos and Lendeborg to see how their minutes trend during the season-opening stretch.
Further reading
For more on team strategy and player availability, visit the Basketball page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by NBC Sports.
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