In the early part of the season, Brandin Podziemski made waves by boldly proclaiming himself the future heir to Stephen Curry and Draymond Green. While he hasn't consistently lived up to those high expectations on the court just yet, his numbers in this third season do show some progress. However, Monday's game against the Washington Wizards was a rough patch for the young guard.
During the third quarter, Podziemski found himself in a tricky situation. In a scramble for a rebound with teammate Omer Yurtseven, he accidentally tipped the ball into his own basket.
This rare mishap didn't go unnoticed. His teammates, caught up in the heat of the moment, expressed their frustration with shouts of, “What are you doing?”
Despite the blunder, Podziemski wrapped up the game with ten points, four rebounds, three assists, and a steal. His shooting was off, going 3-of-11 from the field, 1-of-4 from three-point range, and 3-of-4 from the line. Yet, the Golden State Warriors still emerged victorious with a 125-117 win.
The Warriors are navigating a tough stretch with key injuries. Stephen Curry is out and expected to miss another ten days, while Jimmy Butler is sidelined for the rest of the season due to a serious injury.
Podziemski, however, sees an opportunity amidst the challenges. “It’s a blessing in disguise,” he remarked, reflecting on the team's current injury struggles.
Looking ahead, Podziemski is eyeing a contract extension this summer. At 23, he's aiming for a deal bigger than Moses Moody’s three-year, $39 million contract. With the increased responsibility due to the team's injury issues, this could be his moment to shine and make a compelling case for his future with the organization.