Starter? Sixth man? Podz is ready to contribute in any role

Starter? Sixth man? Podz is ready to contribute regardless of his role.

LAS VEGAS — The first player to replace Klay Thompson in the Warriors’ starting lineup wasn’t an established NBA star. Coach Steve Kerr didn’t choose a veteran, but a rookie who would turn 21 in 10 days.

Thompson’s decision to end his illustrious 13-year stint in a Warriors jersey and relinquish them to the Dallas Mavericks this summer brought an end to the greatest backcourt in basketball history. The true date Thompson and Steph Curry’s Splash Brothers were put to rest was that Feb. 15 win over the Utah Jazz last season, where Klay responded by scoring 35 points as a backup.

Curry’s new partner has become Brandin Podziemski, who has started 15 of the Warriors’ last 28 regular-season games in which he has appeared, starting with that night in Salt Lake City. The question now is, will Podziemski be Curry’s running mate for the 2024-25 NBA season after an inspiring introduction to the pros that saw the 19th overall pick in last year’s draft earn First Team All-Rookie honors?

“I definitely feel more comfortable with the ball and I know Steph feels more comfortable without the ball,” Podziemski told NBC Sports Bay Area on Monday. “If we end up starting together, which is a possibility, that would be cool. But for me, it’s just playing.”

“It doesn’t matter if I start or come off the bench, I just want to be on the pitch when the game is played. It’s certainly a possibility, but I have to earn it. It’s not easy.”

Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy, in response to the loss of Thompson, has already added two guards this offseason who could compete for spots in the starting lineup alongside Curry.

Buddy Hield brings the three-point threat the Warriors will clearly miss in Thompson’s absence. De’Anthony Melton averaged a career-best 11.1 points per game last season and shot 39.0 percent from three-point range the year before when he was healthy. He also brings the kind of defensive prowess needed to create a powerful duo alongside Curry, as Thompson did before injuries changed his game.

“We have a lot of veterans now that we’ve brought in,” Podziemski said. “So for me, it’s just about going out there every day and showing Steve and his team that I deserve it and I earned it and then going from there.”

All the little details that go into a winner were evident the moment Podziemski stepped on the court as a rookie. The 21-year-old led the NBA in charges taken and led the Warriors in plus/minus. Even when he replaced Thompson in that first game in the starting lineup, Podziemski’s plus-five was the best on the Warriors as he did a little bit of everything behind a 13-point, eight-assist, six-rebound performance.

His numbers in 28 starts are very similar to the 46 games Podziemski played off the bench in his first season with the Warriors. Podziemski averaged 9.5 points, 6.3 rebounds and 4.0 assists in the starting lineup, and 9.1 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists as a backup. However, Podziemski’s three-point shooting percentage dropped from 42.3 percent as a backup to 33.7 percent as a starter.

Asking someone to be Thompson from beyond the arc is just plain unfair. It’s also no secret that taking your game to the next level starts with becoming a more confident and reliable scorer.

“I’m just exploring different areas where I can score a lot of shots that I let slip last year and that’s going to increase this year, but I think it’s something that the team needs,” Podziemski said. “For me to get to where I want to be, both team-wise and individually, I think scoring… you have to take that step.”

“All the great players can score at all levels. For me, it’s just finding different ways to score. With our Warriors team, I think we have to be a little more aggressive.”

Kerr told NBC Sports Bay Area that “Brandin is a point guard at heart,” and while the Warriors coach still views him as a combo point guard who can fluctuate between the 1 and 2, he expects Podziemski to play “a lot of point guard this year.”

It was a role that was most evident when Podziemski led the USA Select Team in its two games against a Team USA roster of current NBA superstars and future Hall of Famers. Every time he was on the court, the ball was in Podziemski’s hands, with the young left-hander initiating the offense.

At 6-foot-4 and 200 pounds, Podziemski already looks noticeably stronger heading into his sophomore year. Podziemski also says his lateral quickness has improved, allowing him to envision starting alongside Curry and thriving while doing so.

As the Warriors’ front office continues to look for ways to improve a team recovering from the loss of a franchise icon, Podziemski has made it his mission not to replace Thompson, but to be the best version of himself, capable of silencing the outside noise once again.

“I know Steph is going to do his job. I know Jonathan (Kuminga) is going to do his job. So now where does that third goal scorer come in? I think it’s a perfect opportunity for me,” Podziemski said.

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