The Golden State Warriors currently possess a 23-23 record and position as the Western Conference’s No. 11 seed, with the possibility of the team missing the Play-In Tournament staring them between the eyes. With the Warriors having a rough go of things since their marvelous 12-3 beginning to the campaign, they’ve recently given their younger talent a chance to shine. Golden State’s No. 52 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft Quinten Post has been provided with ample playing time in recent contests, same with the franchise’s No. 55 overall pick in 2022 Gui Santos. The second-round prospect room has been taking advantage of their increased minutes, and they’ve received major assistance from the Warriors’ sophomore guard Brandin Podziemski after his return from injury. In fact, Golden State has won two of their last three contests since his re-insertion into head coach Steve Kerr’s lineup.
Warriors’ Brandin Podziemski Surging Since Return to Lineup
Gritty Guard Has Added an Unexpected Scoring Punch
Prior to suffering an abdominal strain that sidelined the 21-year-old for 12 games, Podziemski had been experiencing a dreadful sophomore season. After a fifth-place finish in Rookie of the Year voting and receiving First-Team All-Rookie honors in 2023-24, the 6-foot-5 point guard was struggling to get his offense going. Through October and November, Podziemski contributed 8.5 points on putrid shooting splits of 37.7% efficiency from the field and 21.5% accuracy from behind the three-point line in 18 appearances.
Scoring was admittedly never the focal point of his play style, and his defensive ability remained evident through his 102.2 defensive rating in that span. His lackluster shooting was still disappointing after an offseason where the Warriors’ ownership spoke highly of the prospect. Warriors Co-Executive Chairman and CEO Joe Lacob even went as far as declaring the versatile guard to be a future All-Star.
His Return
It was safe to say that Podziemski’s 2024-25 campaign was one to be thrown to the side in the overarching story of his development, with the following season being a new opportunity to improve. That was until Podziemski’s 12-game hiatus due to injury allowed the guard to recuperate, putting him in a position to salvage his second season. After an impressive December saw the guard’s percentages rise, he’d have an even better start to the new year.
Through three appearances since his return, Podziemski’s efficiency and scoring productivity have exploded. After his latest outing of 20 points, seven rebounds and six assists in a 114-103 win against the Utah Jazz on Tuesday night, the newly reintroduced two-way force is averaging 15.7 points and 4.3 assists on a remarkable 74.6% true shooting percentage in the month of January. In his break from the action, he seemingly reinvented himself as an offensive player, potentially leading to an increased role going forward.
Warriors’ Outlook as Podziemski Takes Centerstage
It may be unlikely that Podziemski ends up being the Warriors’ desperately needed scoring option to take the pressure off of four-time NBA champion Stephen Curry, but his scoring punch has done plenty to bring new life to the team. This is especially noticeable since Kerr sang Podziemski’s praises during his post-game media availability following the Warriors’ win Tuesday night.
“Yeah, Brandin looks really strong and sharp and determined. I thought he was fantastic tonight and it’s exciting to see. I mean, this is what he expected right from the start this season and obviously things started a little slow for him, but he’s really looking like himself now and I think that time off did help.”
With the rest of the season remaining for the guard to establish himself as one of the more consistent offensive players on the squad, his defense has remained impeccable for Golden State this season. His motor and never-ending hustle is what makes him a potential future All-Defensive Team selection. Through January, his 98.1 defensive rating in his last three appearances has been accompanied by a 127.0 offensive rating, making the reimagined, gritty guard a matchup nightmare moving forward.
Photo Credit: © Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
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