All-Star Klay Thompson’s loss with the Golden State Warriors was clearly a win for Brandin Podziemski. With the Splash Brother gone, the incoming sophomore is excited about the new role he’ll have for the Dubs next season.
Podziemski was selected 19th overall by the Dubs in the 2023 NBA Draft after a successful college career at Santa Clara, where he was named WCC co-Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year.
The rookie quickly made an impact in the league, becoming the first Warriors rookie since point guard Stephen Curry to record a game with 20+ points, 10+ rebounds, and 5+ assists. Before 2023 ended, he had 19 points, 5 rebounds, five assists, and a career-high four three-pointers made in a win over the Brooklyn Nets. Podziemski’s strong play continued throughout the season, which led to him being named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 2024.
As a versatile guard with excellent shooting and playmaking skills, Podziemski has quickly established himself as a valuable contributor for the Warriors. With his combination of talent, work ethic, and the opportunity to play alongside veteran stars, the future looks bright for the young Wisconsin native in the NBA.
Brandin Podziemski Excited About New Role With Golden State Warriors After Klay Thompson Exit
With Thompson now playing for the Dallas Mavericks, a void has been left wide open within the Warriors’ ranks. In an exclusive interview by Mark Medina for Sportskeeda, the Golden State sophomore shared his thoughts about next season.
“How do you prepare for that knowing that Klay is gone and there could be even more of an opportunity?
Brandin Podziemski: “I’m excited for that. My goal all along has been to be a second star to him or a third star with Jonathan [Kuminga]. I know there are a lot of 3s off the table now with Klay gone. We’re going to have to make that up in some facet. So it has been a big part of my game that I’ve been working on.
But I know a bunch of our guys, both our vets and our young guys are not stupid. They see that Klay’s gone. So it’s an opportunity for a lot of people. I think our guys have been working extremely hard since we’ve been done in April. I’m excited to see what it looks like in October,” Medina wrote.
Last season, Podziemski notched 9.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game. He also shot 45 percent from the field, 38 percent from deep, and 63 percent from the free throw line.
It still remains to be seen how Podziemski will perform in his second year in the NBA. But with a huge opportunity left by Thompson’s departure, there’s no reason for the young star not to make the most out of it soon.
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