Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski has some big goals in mind for his rookie season. The 20-year-old said he wants to win the championship in 2023-24 for the likes of Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, Klay Thompson, and head coach Steve Kerr.
“First and foremost, I want to win,” Podziemski said. “I want to get Steph, Dray, all those guys their fifth title. Steve, it’ll be his 10th. Just to be 1 for 1 in my rookie season like Jonathan (Kuminga) and Moses (Moody) were in their rookie year.”
Curry, Green, and Thompson are, of course, chasing what would be their fifth championship this season, having won it all in 2015, 2017, 2018, and 2022. Kerr, meanwhile, won five titles as a player to go with the four he has won as head coach of the Warriors.
Podziemski also aspires to be a part of All-Star weekend in the Rising Stars Challenge, and I’d say he is going to make it. He has averaged 9.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.2 blocks per game this season, and has been one of the few bright spots in a disappointing campaign for the Warriors.
They are now 18-21 on the season after losing 129-118 to the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday night. Unless the Warriors make some moves, I don’t see them seriously challenging for the title this season. Even their making the playoffs isn’t a given at this point, although you’d expect Curry to get them there eventually.
NBA insider Shams Charania reported that the Warriors have put everyone but Curry on the trade market now, as they also appear to have understood that change is needed. Curry himself said the Warriors need to make trades, and I can’t remember him ever openly saying anything like that in the past.
There is now less than a month left before the trade deadline, though, and it’ll be interesting to see what the front office can pull off in that time. If they make the right moves, another title challenge might be on the cards.
Brandin Podziemski’s Basketball Journey
Podziemski has quickly become a fan favorite in the Bay, and while life might well be all rosy now, that wasn’t the case in the past. He had to scratch and claw his way to the top, as Podziemski shared just how rough his basketball journey was.
“2 years ago at this time I had 17 DNP and only played garbage time, 1 year ago at this time I wasn’t on any draft boards, 5 months ago all I heard was that I was bust. Started the year out of the rotation and now I’m starting for the best franchise in the NBA!”
Podziemski committed to playing college basketball at Illinois but didn’t even get to start one game in his freshman season. He only averaged 4.3 minutes per game and decided to transfer to Santa Clara. Podziemski was named WCC co-Player of the Year there, but there were many who were still skeptical about just how good he’d be in the NBA.
The Warriors then selected him with the 19th pick of the 2023 NBA Draft, and he struggled to crack the rotation at first. Eventually, though, he’d get his chance, and he has made it count in a big way. Podziemski is now a key piece for Golden State, and his story is one that should inspire every aspiring basketball player.
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