Brandin Podziemski gets golden opportunity in crucial Warriors offseason – NBC Sports Bay Area & California

SAN FRANCISCO – Brandin Podziemski showed as much promise and production in the 2023-24 NBA season as a Warriors rookie has in a long time. The 21-year-old 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’ blowout loss to the Sacramento Kings in the NBA Play-In Tournament left a bitter taste in Podziemski’s mouth. It only heightened his hunger for someone whose offseason scoring sprees have come from one thing: taking his game to the next level.

Podziemski’s introduction to the NBA game was a mixed bag in summer league play a year ago. The impact he would soon make on the pro game wasn’t immediately apparent at the California Classic or in Las Vegas. His shooting, which saw him sink 43.8 percent of his 3-pointers in Santa Clara, didn’t immediately catch on.

Now, a year later, Podziemski knows that the mentality of showing Steve Kerr and management that he fits into the Warriors system may have gone a level too far. After such a successful rookie season, he looks at his second consecutive summer league with different eyes.

“I think this year it’s just about how I can maximize my touches, be as efficient as possible and make the guys around me better,” Podziemski said Monday at the Chase Center.

As a rookie, Podziemski led the NBA in charges (38), and 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 3-pointers made — behind only the final season of the Curry-Klay Thompson backcourt, and Andrew Wiggins’ 91 threes were one more than Podziemski’s 90.

He takes his game to the next level by starting at ground level with a basic skill for beginners who want to pick up a ball.

“Score more,” Podziemski said without hesitation.

“You guys know how I rebound, play hard – passing the ball is something that comes naturally to me,” he added. “So focusing on scoring the ball, shooting more. Steve put an emphasis on making as many three-pointers as possible.”

The defense from the attack points also received the necessary attention.

No player is going to erase Klay Thompson and replace the franchise icon who moved to the Dallas Mavericks in free agency. Podziemski could be the first in line.

Kerr’s first replacement for Thompson in the Warriors’ starting lineup was not an established veteran, but a rookie who had 46 NBA games to his credit and 13 starts. From that point on, including Thompson’s first game as a substitute, Podziemski averaged 8.2 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game on 43.3 percent shooting and 38.8 percent as a 3-point shooter. He averaged three shots from behind the 3-point line during that span.

Curry averaged 11.8 three-pointers per game last season, while Thompson made nine per game.

Nearly half of Podziemski’s points as a rookie came within 10 feet of the basket. Playing bigger than his size in every aspect of the game, Podziemski showed a combination of craftiness with his floaters and an ability to attack the rim. The Warriors, now entering Podziemski’s second professional season, need to bring his offensive game closer to the way he was named West Coast Conference Player of the Year at Santa Clara when he shot nearly six 3-pointers per game.

“Who can get in that slot and shoot seven to 10 a game?” Podziemski mused. “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, during his few visits to Wisconsin’s Milwaukee area, he’s worked out twice a day with Travis Diener, who played five seasons in the NBA. No matter where Podziemski has played, he’s been drilled in every possible shooting scenario from distance, whether it’s running off screens, ball screens, off the dribble, dribble handoffs or catch-and-shoot.

Think of a footwork move and Podziemski has tried it over the past two months.

“I think for him, it’s just a testament to the work he’s put in,” Warriors Summer League head coach Anthony Vereen said. “He’s a great shooter. We have confidence in him and he has confidence to shoot. I hope you all see that as this Summer League continues.”

Chase Center will remain Podziemski’s primary workstation for the coming days as a member of the Warriors’ summer league team. In mid-June, Kerr approached Podziemski about the opportunity to make the 2024 USA Basketball Men’s Select Team. On June 28, it was announced that Podziemski and Warriors teammate Trayce Jackson-Davis made the 15-man roster that will practice against Kerr and Team USA from June 6-9.

Curry, Kerr and Team USA will play Team Canada in an exhibition game on June 10. Podziemski, Jackson-Davis and the Warriors summer league team will play the Kings in the California Classic at Chase Center. Both are expected to play all four games in Las Vegas.

He may be his newest starting backcourt mate, but Podziemski is most looking forward to battling Curry during Team USA practices, along with Jrue Holiday, Anthony Edwards and Tyrese Haliburton.

“All the guards they have,” Podziemski said. “I think that’s the primary four that I’d like to play against. But really, I just want to see (Kevin Durant), (LeBron James) and all those guys — how they go about their day.”

The ever-confident lefty will be facing a group that has already been compared to the Dream Team or better. His competitiveness is what shone brightest in his NBA debut season. He’s also the rookie who came to watch Curry during his famous pregame workout to be a spectator, an observer and a student.

Coaches and teammates laugh at his audacity, but they appreciate him as an eager sponge.

“I think this is a stepping stone,” Podziemski said of the USA Select Team. “Some of the guys that played on the 2020 Select Team, like Anthony Edwards and Tyrese Haliburton, are now on the 2024 Olympic team. That’s something I want to replicate so I can play on the ’28 Olympic team.”

Everything from his impressive and encouraging rookie campaign is gone. Podziemski will have the ball in his hands and be the main option in the summer league. He will be around the giants of the game to prepare them for the Summer Olympics in Paris.

The Warriors are creating a whole new show and Podziemski, barring a trade, has a shot at being cast as the lead. The only thing that matters, as he made clear, is reaching the next level.

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