SAN FRANCISCO — Brandin Podziemski has shown as much promise and productivity for a Warriors rookie in the 2023-24 NBA season. The 21-year-old point guard became the first Warrior to be named to the All-Rookie First Team since Eric Paschall in 2019-20, and just the fourth to do so since Steph Curry earned the honor as a rookie 14 years ago.
The Warriors’ crushing loss to the Sacramento Kings in the NBA Play-In Tournament left a bitter taste in Podziemski’s mouth that only added to the hunger of someone whose many goals this offseason boil down to one thing: taking his game to the next level.
Podziemski’s entry into the NBA game was mixed during Summer League a year ago. The impact he would quickly have on the professional game wasn’t immediately evident at the California Classic or in Las Vegas. His shooting, which allowed him to shoot 43.8 percent from three-point range in Santa Clara, didn’t immediately take off.
Now, a year later, Podziemski knows that mindset of trying to show Steve Kerr and management that he could fit into the Warriors’ system may have gone a little too far. After such a successful rookie season, he’s looking at his second straight summer league differently.
“I think this year it’s just about maximizing my touches and being as efficient as possible and making the guys around me better,” Podziemski said Monday at Chase Center.
As a rookie, Podziemski led the NBA in tackles (38), and also led the Warriors in total rebounds (427) and plus/minus (plus-264). He was second to Chris Paul in steals, fourth in total assists behind Paul, Steph Curry and Draymond Green, and fourth in three-point shooting — behind Curry guard Klay Thompson last season, and Andrew Wiggins’ 91 three-pointers were one more than Podziemski’s 90.
To take your game to the next level, you have to start on the ground floor, starting with basic skill on the surface for beginners who retrieve a ball.
“Score more balls,” Podziemski said without hesitation.
“You know I’m a good rebounder, I play hard – passing the ball comes naturally to me,” he added. “So I’m focused on scoring the ball, shooting more. Steve’s been really focused on hitting as many three-pointers as possible.”
Point-of-attack defense was also a focus.
No single player can replace Klay Thompson, the franchise icon who joined the Dallas Mavericks as a free agent. Podziemski could also be first on the list.
Thompson’s first replacement in the Warriors’ starting lineup was not an established veteran but a rookie who had played in 46 NBA games and 13 starts. From that point on, including Thompson’s first game as a backup, Podziemski averaged 8.2 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game on 43.3 percent shooting and 38.8 percent from 3-point range. He averaged three shots from beyond the arc during that span.
Curry averaged 11.8 three-point attempts per game last season, and Thompson made nine per game.
Nearly half of Podziemski’s points as a rookie came from 10 feet away. In every aspect of the game, he plays bigger than his size, and Podziemski has shown a combination of craftiness with his floaters and an ability to try to attack the basket. The Warriors, now entering Podziemski’s second professional season, need his offensive game to resemble more of the one that made him West Coast Conference Player of the Year in Santa Clara, when he shot nearly six 3-pointers a game.
“Who can shoot seven to 10 times a game?” Podziemski asked. “Because three is worth more than two, but it also opens up the floor for (Jonathan Kuminga) and (Andrew Wiggins) and it helps them a lot, too.”
Since May 1, two weeks after the Warriors’ season ended, Podziemski has been working out at Chase Center. Back home, on his few visits to the Milwaukee, Wisconsin, area, he’s been practicing twice a day with Travis Diener, who spent five seasons in the NBA. No matter what court Podziemski has played on, he’s been drilled on every possible shooting scenario from deep, whether it’s running screens, on-ball screens, dribbling, passing off the dribble or taking and shooting.
Think of a footwork action and Podziemski has been attempting it the last couple of months.
“I think for him it’s just about showing the work that he’s put in,” said Anthony Vereen, the Warriors’ summer league head coach. “He’s an unbelievable shooter. We have confidence in him and he has confidence to shoot. I hope you all see that throughout this summer league.”
Chase Center will remain Podziemski’s primary venue for the next few days as a member of the Warriors’ summer league team. In mid-June, Kerr approached Podziemski with the opportunity to be a part of the 2024 USA Basketball Men’s Select Team. It was announced on June 28 that Podziemski and Warriors teammate Trayce Jackson-Davis were part of the 15-player roster that will practice against Kerr and Team USA from June 6-9.
Curry, Kerr and Team USA will face Team Canada on June 10 in an exhibition game. Podziemski, Jackson-Davis and the Warriors’ summer league team will be at Chase Center to face the Kings in the California Classic. Both players are expected to play all four games in Las Vegas.
He may be his new starting shooting guard partner, but Podziemski is most looking forward to battling Curry in Team USA practices alongside Jrue Holiday, Anthony Edwards and Tyrese Haliburton.
“Any guard they have,” Podziemski said. “I think those are the main four I’m looking forward to playing. But really, just to see (Kevin Durant), (LeBron James) and all those guys — how they perform on a day-to-day basis.”
The ever-confident left-hander will be facing a group that is already being compared to the Dream Team or better. His competitive spirit is what has shone brightest in his first NBA season. He is also the rookie who has come to watch Curry for the duration of his famous pre-game workouts to be a spectator, an observer and a learner.
Coaches and teammates make fun of his impudence, but they consider him a hasty person.
“I think it’s a stepping stone,” Podziemski said of the U.S. Select Team. “Some players who played on the 2020 Select Team, like Anthony Edwards and Tyrese Haliburton, are now on the 2024 Olympic team. It’s something I want to repeat so I can play on the 2028 Olympic team.”
Everything that marked his impressive and encouraging rookie season is now a thing of the past. Podziemski will have the ball in his hands and will be the main option in the Summer League. He will be alongside the football giants to prepare them for the Summer Olympics in Paris.
The Warriors are creating a completely new series and Podziemski, barring a trade, has the potential to be cast as a lead character. All that matters, as he has made clear, is reaching the next level.
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