PODZ IS BAAAACK!
BRANDIN PODZIEMSKI IS BACK! Anthony Slater reported today that the second-year guard is back from his prolonged injury absence.
And just in time to do battle with the Chicago Bulls on the second night of a back-to-back where the Golden State Warriors dropped the first game in a tough battle with the Sacramento Kings.
Brandin Podziemski is cleared for his return for the Warriors tonight vs Bulls. Missed the previous 12 games with an abdominal issue. An important rotation player back.
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) January 23, 2025
When the Warriors selected Podziemski with the 19th pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, they weren’t just drafting a dude with a jumper and a knack for rebounding. They were drafting a plan, both for the twilight of the Steph Curry era and whatever comes after.
First, let’s address the elephant in the room: Klay Thompson is gone. Yes, our beloved Scuba Klay packed up his boat and took his championship vibes to Dallas. And let’s be real that part of the reason he left was because of Podziemski.
Brandin showed up like the rookie who was hungry for every moment on the court. He crashed into the rotation, started dropping floaters, and casually out-hustled people like it was the only thing he knew how to do. Before you knew it, Klay was getting fewer touches, and the writing was on the wall: the Warriors were preparing for life after the Splash Brothers. And honestly? There’s a good chance Podziemski was holding the pen.
The pick makes sense when you zoom out. The Warriors needed someone who could bridge two timelines: squeezing the last drops out of Steph’s prime while preparing for the post-Curry abyss. Podziemski fits the bill. He’s smart, he hustles, and he has the kind of playmaking instincts that don’t show up on box scores but make coaches swoon. Basically, he’s a “connective tissue” guy aka the duct tape holding the Warriors together as they try to stay relevant without Klay.
But let’s not crown him just yet. Podziemski is a sophomore, which means there will be nights when he looks like the future and nights when he looks like he’d rather be back at Santa Clara. The Warriors know this, and that’s why they’re threading the needle so carefully. They’ve got Steph leading the way and Draymond Green screaming at everyone within a 10-foot radius. Podziemski is being molded into the kind of player who can thrive in chaos.
So, what’s next? For now, the Warriors are letting Brandin cook—on a low simmer, of course. But don’t be surprised if he turns the heat up sooner than expected.