Brandin Podziemski’s Role Shift Isn’t a Setback-It’s a Reset
In the NBA, the word “demotion” tends to carry a heavy weight. It often signals underperformance, unmet expectations, or a player getting passed up in the pecking order.
But sometimes, it’s less about punishment and more about recalibration-about finding the right fit for a player within a team’s system. That’s where Brandin Podziemski finds himself right now with the Golden State Warriors.
After opening the season in the starting lineup, Podziemski has shifted into more of a sixth-man role-first or second off the bench. And frankly, it’s a move that makes sense.
He was trying to do too much, too fast, and the result wasn’t just a dip in production-it was a disruption to the Warriors’ offensive rhythm. That’s not to say he was the sole reason for the team’s early-season struggles, but his play certainly didn’t help smooth things out.
The issue wasn’t effort or attitude-it was indecision. Podziemski, known for his confidence, began second-guessing in real time.
He held the ball too long, especially at the start and end of possessions, bogging down the flow of an offense that thrives on pace and quick reads. Steve Kerr’s “point-five” philosophy-make a decision in half a second-wasn’t being honored, and that hesitation was contagious.
At his best, Podziemski is a connector. He’s not the guy who always finishes the play, but he’s often the one who keeps it moving, bridging the gap between the initial action and the final shot.
That’s where he thrived as a rookie, especially in the paint. During the 2023-24 season, Podziemski averaged 2.2 paint touches per game-good for 11th among 155 guards who played at least 50 games.
This season, that number has steadily declined: 2.0 last year (25th out of 154), and now just 1.3 per game, ranking 41st among 153 guards who’ve played at least 18 games.
It’s not just that he’s getting to the paint less-it’s what’s happening when he does. Too often, he’s getting caught in traffic, surrounded by length, and unsure of what to do next.
That hesitation kills possessions. The Warriors want quick decisions-drive, kick, float, dish.
Anything but stall.
Kerr would much rather see Podziemski attack off a drag screen from Draymond Green, touch the paint, and zip a pass to a cutter like Gary Payton II. That’s when the offense hums-when Podziemski is decisive, aggressive, and in sync with the guys around him.
One area where Podziemski can make a big impact is by rediscovering his floater game. Last season, he hit 47% of his short mid-range attempts (shots from four to 14 feet), ranking in the 72nd percentile among combo guards, per Cleaning the Glass.
This year, that number’s dipped to 39%-a slide that’s taken him down to the 49th percentile. That short-range touch is crucial, especially for a guard who lives in the in-between spaces of the floor.
When Podziemski is a threat to score from that area, defenders have to make tougher choices. Collapse on him, and he can dish.
Stay home, and he can float it in. It’s a simple but powerful dynamic-and one that was on display during a recent possession against Orlando.
After a Steph Curry-led swing-swing sequence, Podziemski attacked on the catch (a classic “stampede” or “boom” cut) and calmly knocked down the floater in the heart of the defense.
That kind of movement-off-ball cuts, quick attacks, decisive finishes-is where Podziemski can shine. He doesn’t have to be the primary initiator to be effective.
In fact, mixing in more off-ball actions might be the key to unlocking his full game. Think of him curling off screens in Golden State’s signature “5 Out” split action, catching on the move, and either pulling up or finding the open man.
It’s a role that suits his instincts and skill set.
There’s also been quiet progress in his perimeter shooting. Podziemski is connecting on 40% of his threes this season, up nearly three percentage points from last year, on similar volume.
That’s not just a nice stat-it’s a potential game-changer. If he can pair that outside efficiency with improved mid-range and floater accuracy, his offensive profile becomes significantly more versatile.
All of this came together in that same game against the Magic. Podziemski didn’t just play well-he impacted winning.
The Warriors outscored Orlando by 36 points during his 27 minutes and 30 seconds on the floor. That’s not a fluke.
That’s a player finding his groove in a role that suits him.
Whether this leads to a return to the starting lineup is still up in the air. But right now, Podziemski is showing that he doesn’t need to be featured to be effective.
He just needs to be sharp, decisive, and fully bought into the system. And if he keeps stringing together performances like this, the Warriors might not need to change a thing.
Sometimes, a step back isn’t a setback-it’s a setup. And Brandin Podziemski might just be setting himself up for his best basketball yet.