December 15, 2024; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski (2) prepares for a game against the Dallas Mavericks at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita/Imagn Images
This week, Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski is attempting to limit damage.
The Warriors defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 113-103 on Saturday night, snapping their three-game losing run. Steph Curry led the Warriors with 31 points, while Podziemski added 12 points off the bench.
Following the game, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr focused on what the team should still improve on, noting that several of their young players are struggling to play alongside Curry this season. Kerr was particularly dissatisfied with their penchant to fire off contested long 2s early in the shot clock when they might have passed the ball to Curry instead.
When asked about Kerr’s comments, Podziemski responded in an unusual manner, essentially suggesting that he would not modify his style of play, even for Curry.
“I’m not really thinking. “I just play,” Podziemski told NBC Sports Bay Area. “When I am out there and open, I shoot it. If not, I make a play. I don’t really look into it. I know Steph Curry is on the court, and if he’s open, I’ll toss the ball to him. I don’t really dig too deeply into their messages.”
The 21-year-old Podziemski instantly garnered anger from fans, who perceived his statements as arrogant and disparaging of Curry’s status as an all-time great to whom teammates should frequently defer on offense.
On Sunday, Podziemski delivered a statement in response to the outrage over his remarks. Podziemski referred to Curry as a “legend” and added that he merely meant he needed to stop “overthinking every possession” and instead “just play and work to make good decisions consistently.”
You may read Podziemski’s entire statement below.
Podziemski, Golden State’s No. 19 overall pick in 2023, won fans over as a rookie last season with his effort and high-IQ play, averaging 9.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game.
However, “Podz” has deteriorated across the board as a sophomore, averaging 8.4 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game this season on an awful 40/27/73 shooting split.
With the Warriors languishing at a disappointing 15-12 overall this season, Podziemski has become an obvious target for criticism. He obviously inflamed the fanbase even more with these recent statements, and many are now clamoring for him to be included in a trade package for this alleged Warriors target.
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