Is Brandin Podziemski playing tonight? Latest on Warriors guard's availability for Summer League game vs. Thunder (July 19)
Brandin Podziemski will likely not play for the Golden State Warriors as they take on the OKC Thunder in their fourth NBA 2025 Summer League matchup on Friday. It seems that the Warriors may have pulled the plug on the second-year guard's Summer League experience. He also missed out on the Warriors' 96-85 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday that gave Golden State a 3-0 record so far.
The move is likely a precautionary one. The Warriors would not want Podziemski to suffer an injury, given that he will need to take on a bigger role next season due to the departures of Klay Thompson and Chris Paul.
Brandin Podziemski's last appearance was against the Chicago Bulls on Sunday which featured him leading the Warriors to a 92-82 victory with his double-double performance of 21 points, 12 rebounds, seven assists and one steal.
Brandin Podziemski talks about taking up bigger role following Klay Thompson and Chris Paul moves
The All-Rookie First Team player spoke to the media recently about his goals for his second season which would require him to take up a bigger role for the team:
“Scoring the ball. It sounds pretty simple but I think I can help Steph, without Klay now, without Chris, I think I can pick up that kinda slack there,” Podziemski said.
“I know all our young guys are going to get better, including our vets. So everyone’s role is going to increase a little bit with them gone and for me, there comes some expectations after being First Team All-Rookie. Going into the second year, I want to live up to or exceed those expectations,” he added.
With the departures of Klay Thompson and Chris Paul, Golden State seems to have high expectations of Brandin Podziemski for the future. Warriors owner Joe Jacob spoke highly of the second-year player when asked for his two cents about Podziemski before the game against the Cavs on Wednesday:
“He does so many things well, he’s ultra-confident," Jacob said. "He’s got an NBA body, he can get anywhere he wants. He obviously can shoot 3s. He can drive, he can pass. I mean, what can’t he do? We’re really excited. We think we have a future All-Star. We really do.”
Brandin Podziemski ended his rookie year last season averaging 9.2 ppg, 5.8 rpg and 3.7 apg while shooting 45.4% from the field and 38.5% from beyond the arc in 74 games played.