Key Highlights
- Kristaps Porziņģis was diagnosed with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) during the 2025 NBA playoffs.
- POTS is an autonomic nervous system disorder that can dramatically increase heart rate when standing up, leading to dizziness and fatigue.
- Porziņģis’ performance was significantly impacted by his condition in the playoffs, but he believes it won’t be a hindrance moving forward.
- The Atlanta Hawks are hopeful Porziņģis will have a strong season despite his POTS diagnosis.
Understanding Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS)
Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, commonly known as POTS, is an autonomic nervous system disorder that affects how the body regulates heart rate and blood pressure. Typically, when a person changes from lying down to standing up, their body automatically adjusts by increasing heart rate and constricting blood vessels to maintain proper blood flow to the brain. However, in individuals with POTS, these automatic adjustments fail, leading to symptoms such as increased heart rate, dizziness, lightheadedness, and fatigue.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, POTS affects 1-3 million people in the United States, predominantly women between the ages of 15 and 50. The condition can be triggered by significant illnesses like mononucleosis or physical trauma such as a head injury. Kristaps Porziņģis experienced these symptoms during his time with the Boston Celtics in the playoffs.
POTS Diagnosed During the NBA Playoffs
Porziņģis, known for his dominant play throughout the regular season, struggled significantly in the postseason due to POTS. In an interview with The Athletic’s Fred Katz, Porziņģis described how the condition affected him: “The breathing wasn’t good. I did everything I could potentially to feel as good as I could, but my engine wasn’t running the way I wanted.” He went on to say, “At that time, I could just lay on the couch and be a house cat.”
When standing up, Porziņģis’ heart rate would spike to 130 beats per minute, leading to extreme fatigue.
This condition was unlike anything he had experienced before: “You know how people say, ‘Oh, I’m so fatigued.’ I’ve never used those words. I don’t even like to speak in those terms, but I really was like that.”
Despite the challenges, Porziņģis managed to play with the Latvian national team during Eurobasket this summer without any issues. He expressed optimism about his future performance: “We are an aspiring team, a young team that aspires to win a championship one day,” he said.
Managing POTS and Future Prospects
Porziņģis is focusing on managing his condition through lifestyle changes and treatments recommended by medical experts. The two main forms of treatment include exercise and physical activity (which isn’t an issue for Porziņģis) and diet and nutrition. Typical dietary recommendations involve increasing salt intake, drinking more water, eating smaller meals more frequently, and including high fiber and complex carbohydrates in one’s diet.
Porziņģis and his doctors have found effective ways to manage the condition without resorting to medications. He emphasized the importance of a high-salt diet and a more regimented resting schedule. The Atlanta Hawks are optimistic about Porziņģis’ performance moving forward, as he is expected to start for the team after being acquired in a trade during the offseason.
The 2025-26 NBA season opens with the Hawks playing against the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday night. Kristaps Porziņģis and the Atlanta Hawks will be closely watching how his condition impacts his performance and whether he can return to form, as he aims to make an impact in the league once again.
