Warriors rookie Brandin Podziemski dazzles in first start vs. Kings

SACRAMENTO — To shoot, or not to shoot? That was the question for Brandin Podziemski on Sunday night.

There he was, open in the corner, and instead of pulling up for a 3-point attempt, Podziemski started to dribble. He dribbled forward past Sacramento Kings defender Trey Lyles, turned inside, drew three defenders, pump-faked, then ducked underneath and went to the hoop for an easy underhand bucket.

It looked like a dazzling play by the Warriors rookie, who made his first start for the Warriors at point guard while Steph Curry and Chris Paul were resting during their 121-115 preseason win over the Kings on Sunday night.

But soon after making the sensational play, Podziemski heard an earful from his coaches: wrong decision.

“Honestly the coaches yelled at me because I didn’t shoot the corner 3,” he said. “They stress that a lot to me, ‘Catch and shoot, catch and shoot.’

“I’ve never been in a situation throughout my basketball career when I’ve been able to be just open and shoot the ball. I’ve always been guarded. A lot of my 3s have always come off the dribble. It’s new for me, catching and shooting, just letting it fly. I don’t realize I’m open. I kind of drive into a couple defenders.”

Podz so smooth with it pic.twitter.com/agcAvrKJYO

— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) October 16, 2023

The score looked pretty: “a pump fake, step through, footwork I usually work on,” he said.

It was also a learning experience. For a player who can contribute in every part of the game, sometimes he just needs to take the shot.

Warriors coach Steve Kerr said he thought Podziemski handled his first start at point guard well and played with poise, something Kerr has said repeatedly since the Warriors made the Santa Clara University product the No. 19 overall pick in the NBA Draft in June.

And while Podziemski is still finding his way in the Warriors’ offense, he’s already made one thing clear about his game: He won’t be out-worked. The 20-year-old almost never stops moving on the floor.

“I really like his pace,” said Warriors guard Moses Moody. “He’s been able to put pressure on the rim, attack and create. Not get overwhelmed when he gets in there. Just staying composed. I’m impressed with it.”

Early in the first quarter against the Kings on Sunday, Podziemski crashed the boards to win a defensive rebound that led directly to a Klay Thompson bucket. The very next defensive possession, he did it again, this time fighting off the 7-foot-1 Domantas Sabonis on a rebound to induce a turnover.

When the 6-foot-5 Poziemski finally came out of the game for his first break, he had already dished out three assists and hauled in three rebounds in less than six minutes.

Still, there was a sense that something was missing as he ran the point: scoring ability. He often failed to create enough separation to give himself clean looks — or didn’t take the shot when he had one — and he appeared more interested in finding open teammates than taking chances himself.

When he did shoot, he struggled, going 1-for-5 from the field and 0-for-1 from 3-point range. He also went 2-for-2 from the free-throw line to go with six rebounds and four assists.

Asked how it felt to start the game in place of Curry and Paul, Podziemski said, “It felt the same as coming off the bench.”

He didn’t think he played as well Sunday as he did during his first two preseason games, noting that the flow was different and he was adjusting to the lineup changes.

Overall, the numbers look good: Through three preseason games, he has played 81 minutes and contributed 23 points, 17 rebounds, 18 assists and only three turnovers, a ratio that would rank him at the top of the NBA over a full season.

“I think Steve (Kerr) really made a point through training camp that (last season) we were ranked 30th in turnovers but first in pace,” Podziemski said. “I’m trying to find an even balance of how I can still push the ball and not turn the ball over.