The Golden State Warriors faced off against the Los Angeles Lakers for their third contest of the 2025-26 preseason Sunday night, allowing their veteran impact players and newly-acquired prospects to develop chemistry before the regular season gets underway.
For Golden State, their 4-time NBA champion Stephen Curry and 6-time All-Star Jimmy Butler sat out for the evening due to a few lingering injuries.
The pronounced lack of star-power ultimately resulted in an increased role for the franchise's former No. 19 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft Brandin Podziemski, and the 6-foot-5 combo-guard took full advantage of the opportunity.
Despite the Warriors' 126-116 defeat in enemy territory, Podziemski turned heads with a sensational 23-point, eight-assist performance that may have gained him some favor from the team's coaching staff.
"Brandin Podziemski is yearning to prove he is the player Warriors coach Steve Kerr says he is and, therefore, would like to silence some of the critical chatter thrown his way by outside personnel evaluators, particularly those on social media," NBC Sports' Monte Poole wrote Monday.
"With Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler III out Sunday night, Kerr handed the offense to the youngsters. To Podziemski, with Jonathan Kuminga as his primary tag-team partner."
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"It was an audition of sorts, to see how the offense would perform without the usual producers."
"While Kuminga’s performance in a 126-116 preseason loss to the Lakers in Los Angeles was equal parts grand and ghastly, Podziemski aced the test."
In just 25 minutes of burn, Podziemski contributed 23 points, eight assists, five rebounds and one steal while shooting 62.5% from the field and knocking down three three-pointers.
The Santa Clara University product controlled the game from all areas of the floor, assuming full responsibility as the Warriors' main offensive hub.
Podziemski has become somewhat of a polarizing prospect for Golden State as he prepares for his third campaign with the team, due in large part to his inconsistent scoring prowess and Warriors owner Joe Lacob's early All-Star prediction for the two-way guard from last year.
He has always been a more-than capable defender and a charge-drawing machine, but adding a reliable jump-shot into the fold could truly mark his ascension to stardom.
Though his excellent effort materialized in a double-digit loss for his squad, Podziemski's all-around scoring chops and impressive patience while running the offense should instill some more confidence in the 2023 All-Rookie First Team selection moving forward.
In 64 appearances for the Warriors this past season, Podziemski averaged 11.7 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.4 assists while registering a solid 0.8 defensive box plus-minus and finishing second in the NBA in charges drawn per game (0.32).
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