Brandin Podziemski has found a cleaner lane in Golden State, and Yaxel Lendeborg is a big reason why.
The Warriors have leaned on the pair more than any other duo on the roster this season. Podziemski and Lendeborg have shared 156 minutes, edging out even Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, who sit at 153. That kind of usage says plenty about how Steve Kerr sees them fitting together.
The fit is obvious once they start moving the ball. Podziemski can handle a little bit of everything, and Kerr has often called him a connector who improves whatever group he’s in.
Lendeborg brings a different kind of pressure. He can slow things down, draw contact, and create for himself or for others.
By taking on some of the on-ball work, he frees Podziemski to lean into the off-ball game that suits him best.
That was on display late in the third quarter against the Suns. With 6-foot-1 Collin Gillespie on Lendeborg at the top of the key, the rookie backed him down and forced Dillon Brooks, who was guarding Podziemski on the perimeter, to help inside.
Lendeborg recognized the rotation and kicked it out to Podziemski, who attacked Brooks’ closeout and finished with an uncontested floater. Podziemski didn’t have to manufacture the first crack in the defense - he just punished it.
Kerr has been clear about what he wants from Podziemski. Before the season, he and general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. talked about getting back to the aggressive version of Podziemski that showed up in the final weeks of last season, when Curry and Butler were both sidelined. Kerr has said Podziemski is at his best as a “semi-point guard,” and after the win over Phoenix, he explained why.
"He’s amazing when he’s off the ball," Kerr said after the Warriors’ win over the Suns. " Manipulating the defense, running through the catch, and getting into the paint, making the right play."
The Warriors have already seen how dangerous that can be. In Golden State’s first win of the season in Denver last week, Podziemski and Lendeborg helped drive the offense during the non-Curry minutes and sparked runs that stretched the lead while Curry rested.
Golden State was a +7 with Curry on the floor and a +13 with him on the bench. Podziemski and Lendeborg posted a +47.1 net rating in their 24 minutes together, and Draymond Green called that stretch “special.”
They did it again when Curry and Green both sat out the front end of a back-to-back against the Clippers. Podziemski and Lendeborg combined for 54 points, 12 rebounds, and 14 assists, taking turns running the offense and putting teammates in position to succeed.
Podziemski said the connection has felt natural because of what he learned playing alongside Butler last season. He said that "they want the ball in kind of the same area." He also said he went back and studied some of the actions he used with Butler so he could get Lendeborg the ball in the spots he likes.
One sequence against the Clippers showed that chemistry in full. De’Anthony Melton set a back screen to free Lendeborg, who ended up deep in the paint with Darius Garland on him. Podziemski spotted the mismatch and dropped a pass only Lendeborg could haul in before the defense recovered, leading to an easy layup.
The numbers back up how much the two are finding each other. Four of Podziemski’s eight assists against the Clippers went to Lendeborg, and two of Lendeborg’s six assists ended with a Podziemski bucket.
After the win over Phoenix, Podziemski has assisted Lendeborg 10 times, more than any other teammate. Podziemski is tied with Charles Bassey and De’Anthony Melton as one of Lendeborg’s top finishing partners.
For Podziemski, the role comes with a different kind of freedom. Entering his fourth NBA season, he has made communication a priority, calling himself a “coach on the floor” and focusing on spacing, timing, and making life easier for everyone around him.
With Lendeborg handling more of the creation, Podziemski has had more chances to show the awareness and connective play that Kerr and his teammates keep praising. He wants his teammates to "think less" when he’s out there with them.
Stephen Curry has noticed the impact. After Podziemski posted 21 points, five rebounds, six assists, and two steals against the Lakers, Curry said, "He’s such a unique player, we always talk about it," Curry said after Podziemski put up 21 points, five rebounds, six assists, and two steals against the Lakers.
"It’s sometimes it’ll show up in the stat sheet like it did tonight, sometimes it’s just in the plus-minus. But the way he can connect a lot of different lineups and the hustle plays he makes is stuff that helps you win games."
That clearer role has also helped Podziemski play with more confidence. He said there’s an "at-easiness" that comes from the trust he feels from coaches and teammates, which has helped him push through a couple of slow starts instead of getting stuck on them.
The message around him has been simple: stay aggressive. When he passed up an open shot against the Lakers, the bench - Curry included - told him "we’re not doing that again."
With Curry urging him to keep firing, Podziemski has been willing to take the shots that come his way.
Kerr said the confidence is showing.
"He’s got a lot of confidence now," Kerr said of Podziemski. "More than he’s ever had, and he’s playing at a really high level."
There’s also a mutual benefit in the partnership. Podziemski, who will turn 24 next February, is a few months older than Lendeborg, but Lendeborg has said Podziemski has helped him handle outside noise, bring positive energy, and work through simple reads on the floor.
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