Brandin Podziemski lit up the court in the Warriors' gritty victory over the Denver Nuggets on Sunday, showing why he's a name to watch in the NBA. Coming off the bench, the third-year guard was a dynamo, nearly snagging a triple-double and injecting much-needed energy into Golden State's lineup.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr weighed in post-game, reflecting on Podziemski's rollercoaster season and pinpointing areas for growth. “It’s been up and down, for sure, but our season has been up and down as a whole, and sometimes a team’s struggles impact the individuals,” Kerr noted after the Warriors' 128-117 triumph over Denver.
Podziemski, a Santa Clara standout, has been a plus-minus powerhouse for the Warriors, largely due to his impressive versatility and rebounding prowess. Kerr highlighted, “The rebounding is what attracted us to him in the first place. When a guy rebounds like that, you know he has great anticipation.”
Against the Nuggets, Podziemski stuffed the stat sheet with 18 points, 15 rebounds, and nine assists, nailing 3 of 7 from downtown in 37 minutes. However, the challenge for the 22-year-old remains finding consistency night in and night out.
Kerr elaborated, “It’s really more of a matter of finding that sweet spot where he’s making plays without dominating the ball. That’s his next step.
Tonight, he showed flashes of both brilliance and areas to work on. When he gets the ball moving, it opens up opportunities for him to leverage defenses and make plays.”
This season, Podziemski is putting up solid numbers, averaging 12.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game, with shooting splits of 45.1 percent from the field and 37.1 percent from three-point range over 57 games.
With 25 games left in the regular season, Podziemski's role could be pivotal for the Warriors, especially with Steph Curry out for at least three more games. His ability to step up could be a key factor in Golden State’s push for a playoff berth.