The Warriors were looking for someone to step up and fill the guard void with Stephen Curry out due to an injury and Klay Thompson ejected early on Tuesday night and rookie Brandin Podziemski did just that.
Podziemski scored 23 points in 39 minutes with seven rebounds and five assists.
It sounds like Podziemski making the most of his opportunity with the Warriors shorthanded will lead to more playing time regardless of the situation.
“He’s going to play," Steve Kerr said after the game. "He’s going to play every night. He’s earned that. He was incredible tonight, he’s been great in practice. There’s something unique about him at that size to rebound the way he does. He had seven tonight. He’s always in the right spot, he’s fearless, and he connects the game. He plays the way we want to play. The ball moves when he’s out there, he’s attacking at the right times, he’s cutting at the right times. Defensively he’s really good. He’s a damn good player so he’s going to play.”
Podziemski explained how he views his role as a rookie on this Warriors team.
Chris Paul has been impressed with what Podziemski has brought to the table since joining the Warriors in the June draft.
“He’s great man, BP, we talk a lot during the game. His energy is contagious, it’s another ball handler that’s out there that’s able to attack, defend. He just–I mean we talk about it all the time we don’t have some regular rookies you know what I mean, we got some rooks who pay attention, know what they're doing. To be on a team like this, this early in the season, valuable minutes in big games, it's only going to be good in the long haul.”