Brandon Podzemski’s path to NBA stardom was full of twists and turns.
The 20-year-old guard will start on a Warriors team that still has the dynasty trio of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green on the roster. That’s unusual for a rookie in Golden State’s system.
Podzemski was selected with the 19th pick in the first round of the 2023 NBA Draft and was clearly in a favorable position, but there was some initial skepticism about the selection and what role, if any, he would play. I didn’t know yet. He will be there this season too.
The Santa Clara University product shared a post on X (formerly known as Twitter) on Sunday, highlighting the roller coaster journey that led him to a featured role with the Warriors.
Podzemski started the 2023-24 NBA season on the bench, but was unable to crack coach Steve Kerr’s rotation. But he instantly inspired every time he saw the floor, and it became clear the Warriors had to carve out a consistent role for the burly rookie.
This season, Pojimsk has played in 23 games (six starts) and is averaging 8.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game, shooting 45.9 percent from the field and 38.6 percent from 3-point range.
Podzemski started against the Los Angeles Clippers on Dec. 14 in place of the struggling Andrew Wiggins and has impressed since then.
Podzemski and fellow rookie Trayce Jackson-Davis have provided a youthful boost to an aging Warriors team that has been looking for an influx of decent youth in recent years. And without those years of hardship, Podzemski may not have been the talent that helped him earn a key role on a championship-level team.
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