The Golden State Warriors, a franchise known for its history of drafting multiple-star point guards, made a significant move in 2023. With the legendary Stephen Curry nearing the end of his career, the front office selected Brandin Podziemski, an all-around contributor who could be the future of the Bay.
In just one season for the Santa Clara Broncos, Podziemski averaged 19.9 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 3.7 assists while shooting 48.3% from the field and 43.8% from three. He was a proven scorer with an unmatched hustle for crashing the glass and creating extra opportunities.
Podziemski incorporated the same techniques in the NBA, which amounted to nothing short of impressive. He closed out 2024 on the all-rookie first team with votes that landed him fifth in the Rookie of the Year race.
With the guidance of Stephen Curry, Brandin Podziemski will become a star at point guard for the Golden State Warriors.
When the Golden State Warriors drafted Brandin Podziemski in the first round, it was clear he would begin his career off the bench. He took pride in the opportunity and focused on leaving a positive impact in any way possible.
Although the Warriors were eliminated from the play-in tournament, Podziemski demonstrated excellence in his first season. He recorded averages of 9.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 3.7 assists in under 30 minutes per game.
With hopes of a successful playoff run next season, head coach Steve Kerr will have Podziemski lead the bench. He will be in this role to motivate the locker room and provide a scoring burst when substitutions are made. The former three-star recruit could finish as a finalist for Sixth Man of the Year if Golden State surpasses the eighth seed threshold.
Next season, Podziemski’s primary goal should be to learn from Stephen Curry on and off the ball. He is already a great shooter, but if he can learn how to distract defenses with backdoor cuts and screens from Curry, he will develop into a star much faster than anticipated.
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