The Golden State Warriors are considered by plenty of people to at least be a dark-horse contender for this season’s NBA championship, but they have an aging roster that is in need of some youthful energy.
Fortunately, they have a rookie on their roster who may be able to help out at least a little.
Guard Brandin Podziemski was the No. 19 pick in June’s draft, and Stephen Curry had some complimentary things to say about him, per Warriors on NBCS.
“He’s a very confident guy.”
Steph shares his early impressions of Brandin Podziemski pic.twitter.com/zMXc9OLxwt
— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) October 17, 2023
Podziemski, who is 20 years of age, spent last season at nearby Santa Clara University, and he averaged 19.9 points and 8.8 rebounds a game while shooting 43.8 percent from 3-point range on a high volume of attempts.
If he pans out, he will join guard Moses Moody, forward Jonathan Kuminga, and big man Kevon Looney as the main young players who could help Golden State and keep their older players fresh.
The team made a curious move during the summer by trading Jordan Poole, the 24-year-old sharpshooter who was a key member of its 2021 championship team, for Chris Paul, the 38-year-old future Hall-of-Fame point guard.
Some feel it was a deft move, but others feel it was unwise to get older while adding a player such as Paul who may not fit in with the Warriors’ fast-moving offense.
The Western Conference will be much more competitive this season, and a number of teams are expected to increase their win total from last year, which will be a big challenge for a Warriors team that finished sixth last season.
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Steph Curry Sets Clear Expectations For Rising Teammate