SAN FRANCISCO – Brandin Podziemski confirmed as a lot promise and manufacturing by a Warriors rookie in fairly a while all through the 2023-24 NBA season. The 21-year-old guard grew to become the primary Warrior to be named to the All-Rookie First Workforce since Eric Paschall in 2019-20, and solely the fourth to take action since Steph Curry earned the glory as a rookie 14 years in the past.
The Warriors’ blowout loss to the Sacramento Kings within the NBA Play-In Event left a bitter style for Podziemski that solely added starvation for somebody whose many targets boil down to at least one factor all through this offseason: Taking his recreation to the following degree.
Podziemski’s introduction to the NBA recreation was a combined bag of outcomes at summer time league a 12 months in the past. The impression he shortly would make on the professional recreation wasn’t instantly evident on the California Basic or in Las Vegas. His shot that noticed him sink 43.8 % of his 3-pointers at Santa Clara didn’t instantly catch fireplace.
Now a 12 months later, Podziemski is aware of the mindset of making an attempt to indicate Steve Kerr and the entrance workplace he can match the Warriors’ system might need gone a degree too far. Following such a profitable rookie season he’s taking a look at his second straight summer time league in another way.
“I feel this 12 months it’s simply extra of how I can maximize my touches and be as environment friendly as I can and make the fellows round me higher,” Podziemski stated Monday at Chase Middle.
As a rookie, Podziemski led the NBA in fees (38), in addition to being the Warriors’ chief in complete rebounds (427) and plus/minus (plus-264). He was second to solely Chris Paul in steals, fourth in complete assists behind Paul, Steph Curry and Draymond Inexperienced, and fourth in 3-pointers – trailing the final season of the Curry-Klay Thompson backcourt, and Andrew Wiggins’ 91 threes had been yet another than Podziemski’s 90.
Taking his recreation to the following degree begins on the floor flooring, starting with an elementary ability on the floor for newcomers choosing up a ball.
“Scoring the ball extra,” Podziemski stated with out hesitation.
“You guys learn about my rebounding, my taking part in onerous – passing the ball is simply one thing that comes naturally to me,” he added. “So specializing in scoring the ball, capturing extra. This was an enormous emphasis from Steve to get as many threes up as we will.”
Level-of-attack protection additionally has been a spotlight.
No single participant goes to erase Klay Thompson and substitute the franchise icon who has moved on to the Dallas Mavericks in free company. Podziemski additionally is likely to be first in line.
Kerr’s first substitute for Thompson within the Warriors’ beginning lineup wasn’t a longtime veteran however a rookie who had 46 NBA video games to his identify and 13 begins. From that time on, together with Thompson’s first recreation off the bench, Podziemski averaged 8.2 factors, 5.8 rebounds and three.5 assists per recreation on 43.3-percent capturing and 38.8 % as a 3-point shooter. He took a mean of three photographs past the arc in that span.
Curry averaged 11.8 3-point makes an attempt per recreation final season, and Thompson put up 9 per recreation.
Almost half of Podziemski’s factors as a rookie got here inside 10 ft of the basket. In each side of the sport he performs greater than his dimension, and Podziemski displayed a mixture of craftiness along with his floaters and a capability to try to assault the rim. The Warriors now, getting into Podziemski’s second professional season, want his offensive recreation to nearer resemble what made him the West Coast Convention Participant of the 12 months at Santa Clara when he was capturing almost six 3-pointers per recreation.
“Who can sort of get in that slot of capturing seven to 10 a recreation?” Podziemski contemplated. “As a result of three is price greater than two however it additionally opens the ground for [Jonathan Kuminga] and [Andrew Wiggins] and it simply helps them out a bunch too.”
Since Might 1, two weeks after the Warriors’ season ended, Podziemski has been understanding at Chase Middle. Again dwelling throughout his few visits to the Milwaukee space of Wisconsin, he skilled two-a-days with Travis Diener, who spent 5 seasons within the NBA. No matter court docket Podziemski has been on he has been drilled by each doable capturing situation from deep, whether or not it’s working off screens, ball screens, off the dribble, dribble handoffs or catch-and-shoot.
Consider a footwork motion and Podziemski has tried it these previous two months.
“I feel for him it’s simply exhibiting the work that he’s been placing in,” Warriors summer time league head coach Anthony Vereen stated. “He’s a tremendous shooter. We’ve got confidence in him, and he has confidence to shoot. I hope you all see that as this summer time league goes on.”
Chase Middle will proceed to be Podziemski’s fundamental place of job for the following few days as a member of the Warriors’ summer time league group. In mid-June, Kerr approached Podziemski with the chance to be a part of the 2024 USA Basketball Males’s Choose Workforce. It was introduced on June 28 that Podziemski and Warriors teammate Trayce Jackson-Davis made the 15-man roster that can apply towards Kerr and Workforce USA from June 6 by 9.
Curry, Kerr and Workforce USA play Workforce Canada on June 10 in an exhibition recreation. Podziemski, Jackson-Davis and the Warriors’ summer time league group will probably be at Chase Middle taking part in the Kings within the California Basic. Each are anticipated to play all 4 video games in Las Vegas.
He is likely to be his latest beginning backcourt mate, however Podziemski is most wanting ahead to battling Curry in Workforce USA practices, together with Jrue Vacation, Anthony Edwards and Tyrese Haliburton.
“Any guards that they’ve bought,” Podziemski stated. “I feel these are the first 4 I’m excited to go towards. However actually simply to see [Kevin Durant], [LeBron James] and all these guys – how they go about their day.”
The ever-confident lefty will compete towards a gaggle that already is being in comparison with the Dream Workforce or higher. His competitiveness is what shined brightest in his debut NBA season. He is also the rookie who got here out and watched Curry for the whole lot of his well-known pregame exercises to be a spectator, observer and learner.
Coaches and teammates chuckle about his brashness, however he’s recognized in excessive regard by them for being an keen sponge.
“I feel it is a stepping stone,” Podziemski stated of the USA Choose Workforce. “Some guys that performed on the 2020 Choose Workforce like Anthony Edwards, Tyrese Haliburton are actually on the Olympic group in 2024. Seeing that’s one thing that I wish to repeat so I can play on the ‘28 Olympic group.”
Every part from his spectacular and inspiring rookie marketing campaign is up to now. Podziemski may have the ball in his palms and be the principle possibility in summer time league. He will probably be across the recreation’s giants to organize them for the Paris Summer time Olympics.
The Warriors are creating a totally new present, and Podziemski, barring a commerce, has an avenue to be forged as a fundamental character. All that issues, as he made clear, is reaching the following degree.
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