Rounding up all Warriors and NBA related news for Monday, September 16th.
In today’s Dub Hub:
- Brandin Podziemski says he’s looking forward to proving people wrong about the Warriors this season in an interview with NBC Sports Bay Area.
- Former NBA player Mitchell Wiggins, father of current Warriors’ player Andrew Wiggins, passed away last Friday at the age of 64.
- CBS Sports ranks Heat coach Erik Spoelstra as the number one coach in the NBA.
Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski is looking forward to proving people wrong in his second season with the team. Speaking to NBC Sports Bay Area’s Laura Britt prior to the San Francisco Giants game on Friday, Podziemski addressed the doubters who believe the Warriors’ best days are behind them.
“We don’t love to hear that, but we love to hear that in the fact that we’re going to do something that no one expects us to do,” Podziemski told Britt on Friday at Oracle Park after he took batting practice before the Giants game. “They don’t think that we’re the Warriors that we were before, and for us, I think it’s just the best feeling when you don’t have anything to lose out there, and you just go out and prove people wrong.
Podziemski aims to make a stronger impact in his sophomore season for a Warriors team eager to return to championship contention. With an expanded role ahead, his growth and development will be crucial to Golden State’s success this upcoming season.
For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Monday, September 16th:
Warriors News:
Podz responds to criticism that Warriors are like washed-up rock band | NBC Sports Bay Area
Second-year NBA guard Brandin Podziemski, charged with helping maintain the last few years of the Warriors’ dynasty, spoke to NBC Sports Bay Area’s Laura Britt about recent comments in which an anonymous NBA coach likened Golden State to a rock band past its prime.
“We don’t love to hear that, but we love to hear that in the fact that we’re going to do something that no one expects us to do,” Podziemski told Britt on Friday at Oracle Park after he took batting practice before the Giants game. “They don’t think that we’re the Warriors that we were before, and for us, I think it’s just the best feeling when you don’t have anything to lose out there, and you just go out and prove people wrong.
“I think there’s a bunch of guys with that mentality that thrive off proving people wrong, and I know Steph [Curry] is one of those guys. So just to be alongside him in the backcourt and in combination with all of our other guys, we’re just excited to prove people wrong.”
Draymond issues stark warning to PG13 about rowdy 76ers fans | NBC Sports Bay Area
Green told NFL insider Jordan Schultz about George’s looming rude awakening on Friday.
“Good luck, Paul George,” Draymond Green said (h/t ClutchPoints’ Tomer Azarly). “Aw, he better play well, or they’re going to crush Paul George if he don’t play well, oh my god.
“You know why they’re gonna crush Paul George if he don’t play well there? Because they already got a nasty taste in their mouth from their last three (small forward) that they had with Tobias Harris. They never felt like he brought it, so that’s why.”
Former NBA player Mitchell Wiggins, father of Andrew Wiggins, passed away last Friday at the age of 64
Condolences to Andrew Wiggins and his family on the passing of his Father, Mitchell Wiggins.
RIP Mitchell Wiggins pic.twitter.com/Kg5EuILC50
— warriorsworld (@warriorsworld) September 13, 2024
NBA Rumors: LeBron, Steph Curry Tension ‘Was Real’ over ‘Best in the World’ Talk | Bleacher Report
LeBron James and Stephen Curry looked like the best of friends when winning a gold medal for Team USA during the 2024 Paris Olympics, but that reportedly wasn’t always the case.
“We were at all those Finals where I don’t care what LeBron says now,” Sam Amick of The Athletic said during a discussion with insider Tim Kawakami (8:20 mark). “It’s not a matter of them having animosity toward one another, but they were rivals. Their camps didn’t always love the way that the other player was talked about. LeBron’s people did not love it when people started calling Steph the best player in the world. There was a tension that was real.”
Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. celebrated his 44th birthday on Sunday
Wishing a Happy Birthday to our General Manager, Mike Dunleavy pic.twitter.com/2LCl0oLQ6A
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) September 15, 2024
NBA News:
Ranking every NBA coach for 2024-25 season: JJ Redick at the bottom, Pop outside top 10 and No. 1 in own tier | CBS Sports
1. Erik Spoelstra, Heat
Erik Spoelstra has coached in 34 playoff series. He has been the lower seed in 18 of those series. Care to guess how many times Erik Spoelstra teams have fallen behind in a series 2-0? Three times. That’s right. All three came either in the NBA Finals or against a team that reached the NBA Finals. One came with two injured starters (the 2020 NBA Finals). Another featured a two-point overtime loss on the road. So why does any of this matter? Because it shows just how impeccably well-prepared every Erik Spoelstra team is for the playoffs. No matter who he’s playing or who is on his own roster, he always finds some way to catch his opponents off guard.
NBA newcomers to watch: Top rookies and new faces on new teams | ESPN
It was evident throughout the second half of the regular season that Oklahoma City — specifically guard Josh Giddey — was going to be tested once the playoffs began. The Thunder offense boasts incredible spacing, which prompted defenses to sag off of the below-average shooting Giddey at the 3-point line in hopes of sealing off Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the paint. That strategy worked for the Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference semifinals, where Giddey shot just 18.8% (3-for-16) from beyond the arc, and the Thunder — a minus-23 with him on the court during that series — played him sparingly as a result. That’s where a 30-year-old Caruso, one of the most tenacious defenders in the league and coming off a career-best 40.8% mark from 3 this past season, comes into play. He makes an already stout defense even better, and may very well rid the group of the spacing problem that arose with Giddey in the mix, particularly in the postseason. — Herring
Lakers sign 7-foot center Christian Koloko
The Lakers and seven-foot center Christian Koloko have agreed on a deal, agent Calvin Andrews of Klutch Sports says. Koloko is expected to have an opportunity for a role in Lakers frontcourt after he receives clearance from league’s fitness panel. https://t.co/QEYw7Or4kR
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 14, 2024
In case you missed it at Golden State of Mind:
Extension for Jonathan Kuminga looking unlikely
It comes down to both Kuminga and the Warriors having incentives to wait until next summer. For Kuminga, a big season gives him the possibility of earning a max deal, either from the Warriors or another NBA team. For the Warriors, they retain their flexibility to trade Kuminga if the right deal arises during the upcoming season, something that’s almost impossible if he signs an extension. Plus, the team-friendly nature of restricted free agency means they can simply wait and see what offers Kuminga gets next summer, then decide whether or not to match, or work a sign-and-trade.
Follow @unstoppablebaby on Twitter for all the latest news on the Golden State Warriors.