In Sunday’s showdown against the Denver Nuggets, the Golden State Warriors faced a significant challenge. With key players like Steph Curry, Draymond Green, Kristaps Porzingis, and Jimmy Butler III all sidelined, the team was left to rely on a lean nine-man roster against a formidable opponent led by Nikola Jokic, who casually notched his 185th career triple-double.
Enter Brandin Podziemski, the Warriors’ third-year guard. His performance through the first three quarters was forgettable, hitting just 1-for-10 from the field.
Trade rumors were swirling, and it seemed justified. Then came the fourth quarter.
Podziemski erupted for 15 points on a perfect 6-for-6 shooting spree, igniting a 20-2 run that propelled the Warriors to a 128-117 victory over Denver. He wrapped up the game with 18 points, a career-high 15 rebounds, and 9 assists-just shy of a triple-double-while posting a plus-19 in 37 minutes on national television. Talk about clutch.
To put this in perspective, Podziemski’s 18-15-9 stat line places him among elite company in Warriors history. According to Basketball Reference, he’s only the 28th player in the franchise to achieve at least 18 points, 15 rebounds, and nine assists in a single game, joining legends like Wilt Chamberlain, Nate Thurmond, and Draymond Green. At just 22 years old, Podziemski is already making his mark.
A report from December hinted at the Warriors’ openness to trading him, a shift from their earlier stance of considering him “untouchable.” Performances like Sunday’s, however, are turning skeptics into believers.
This is the Podziemski that had Mike Dunleavy Jr. proclaiming “you’re ours” when other teams came calling with draft picks. It’s the vision Joe Lacob had of him as a future All-Star.
And those 15 rebounds from a guard? Shades of a prime Russell Westbrook.
When the shot isn’t falling, find other ways to contribute-Podziemski did just that with his relentless effort on the boards.
Reflecting on Podziemski’s words from October, he expressed a desire for Curry and Green to see him as the future of the franchise. Against Denver, he responded to that challenge without uttering a word. Despite a cold start, he willed the team to victory against the Western Conference’s fourth-best squad.
This isn’t just potential-it’s character. Is Podziemski finding his stride?
Absolutely. Call it confidence, call it the clutch gene, or call it the emergence of a player realizing his capabilities when the stakes are high.
The baton metaphor he mentioned in October seemed premature by December, but Sunday’s performance offered a glimpse into a promising future in the Bay.