Brandin Podziemski has emerged as an integral player with the Golden State Warriors and has taken pride in filling a number of different roles with the team as a rookie.
Podziemski has become a favorite of head coach Steve Kerr and a valuable member of his rotation. He has started 14 games and is averaging 26.4 minutes per game this season, which ranks seventh-most among first-year players.
The 19th pick is typically among the players on the court closing games for the Warriors, which is important to him. He said after participating in the NBA Rising Stars game on Friday that he relishes those opportunities.
To be starting, it’s cool, but I’d rather finish games. Steve having me out there when the game matters most is what’s most important to me. It’s cool to start, but if he takes you out and you don’t play, what’s the point? I just want to be there when it’s money time, and so do a bunch of other guys on our team. I think that’s why we’re a winning organization.
Podziemski is averaging 9.9 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.9 assists on 38.5% shooting from 3-point range in 47 games. He is seventh among rookies in scoring and third in assists and leads all players in the league in charges drawn (27).
He infamously said prior to the season that he wanted to be a triple-double player, and while he hasn’t reached that mark, he still offers that sort of production each game. His mindset each time he takes the court is to affect winning in every way possible.
It’s everything but the scoring: The charges I take, the passes I make. The big thing for me is not turning the ball over, playing defense and finding ways to make shots. That’s really it. Everything else falls into place. I get open shots from them. Give the ball to Andrew (Wiggins) and Jonathan (Kuminga) in space and let them play. Those are small little things to do to get your numbers up. Even though that’s not really the goal. Just playing simple, making the easy play, and the game rewards you.
Podziemski leads all rookies in assists (60) in February and is third in rebounding (63) in nine games played. He recently became the first rookie since the 1967-68 season to register three straight double-doubles with no turnovers.
The 20-year-old has given Kerr and the Warriors another playmaker on the floor. He gives the team another dynamic on both sides of the ball and has played a key part in helping the team this season.
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