The Golden State Warriors' aging core of Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green will be aiming to lead the dynastic franchise to its eighth title in 2025-26, but some of their younger pieces should be relied upon to make valuable contributions along the way.
For the past few seasons, the Warriors' main concern has surrounded the topic of who can lead the team into the post-Curry future, especially since the team failed to hit on their No. 2 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft by selecting current Indiana Pacers center James Wiseman.
Fortunately for Golden State, their No. 19 overall pick from the 2023 NBA Draft and 2023 All-Rookie First Team selection, Brandin Podziemski, has developed into a reliable offensive option and high-IQ defender.
The 22-year-old combo-guard has gained a favorable reputation around the NBA as a hard-nosed, gritty defender and rebounder with veteran-like poise, and his efforts recently earned him a spot on CBS Sports' Top 100 NBA Players list prior to the beginning of the 2025-26 campaign at No. 85.
"Golden State's Josh Hart, Podziemski is an Energizer Bunny on both ends with a nose for the ball and an arhythmic creation cadence that thrives within the cracks of Golden State's randomized offense," CBS Sports' Brad Botkin wrote Tuesday morning.
"He can do a little bit of everything. No real holes. Plays fast and confidently. Streaky but capable shooter."
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"A lot of in-between finesse coupled with some bull-in-a-china-shop penetration. Terrific positional rebounder. Winning player, bottom line, as evidenced by Golden State's +6.8 net rating with him on the floor last season."
Following up a rollercoaster 2024-25 for Podziemski, he appears ready to prove that his debut appearance on the Top 100 list will not be a fluke.
To begin this quest, the incoming third-year guard took full advantage of his opportunity to shine despite the Warriors' 126-116 defeat at the hands of the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday with their 4-time NBA champion Curry and 6-time All-Star Butler sidelined due to injury.
In 25 minutes of work, Podziemski racked up 23 points, eight assists and five rebounds while shooting 62.5% from the field and registering a +6 in the plus-minus department as Golden State's main offensive creator.
Botkin likened Podziemski to the New York Knicks' Swiss army knife wing Josh Hart for good reason, and it's because of his elite motor and never-say-die attitude. The only difference is that the latter is a much more capable outside shooter and ball-handler.
For a Warriors organization scrambling to figure out where the direction of the franchise will be headed once Curry, Butler and Green ride off into the sunset, Podziemski could be a player that can build the foundation of their bridge to the future.
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