Rookies look to build on success
Jackson-Davis, Podziemski to play in Summer League
In the aftermath of Tuesday night’s play-in game implosion in Sacramento, with the futures of Klay Thompson and Chris Paul twisting in doubt, the Golden State Warriors probably find a measure of comfort in taking stock of rookies Brandin Podziemski and Trayce Jackson-Davis.
The Warriors need them, in a big way, to move forward.
Podziemski and Jackson-Davis both made a striking impact in their first NBA season, a rare development for Golden State over the past decade. It’s not a stretch to suggest they showed more promise than any Warriors rookie since Harrison Barnes, who started 81 games in 2012-13. (Draymond Green had only one start that season.)
The Warriors have whiffed a few times in the draft since then, whether it was early in the first round (James Wiseman at No. 2 overall in 2020) or late (Jacob Evans at No. 28 in 2018). They had productive picks in Kevon Looney (2015), Jordan Poole (2019) and Jonathan Kuminga (2021), but those players needed time to develop.
Podziemski made 28 starts this season, led the Warriors in plusminus and led the NBA in charges drawn (38). Jackson-Davis started 16 regular-season games, including the final 11, and rejuvenated the defense with his rim-protecting athleticism and length.
They both plan to play in the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, fully expecting their roles to expand next season.
“It’s an opportunity for me and Trayce to lead a team and be the best players out there,” Podziemski said Wednesday at Chase Center, less than 24 hours after Golden State’s ugly 118-94 play-in loss to the Kings.
“I think it’s super critical for (GM) Mike (Dunleavy) and (coach) Steve (Kerr) to see the leadership me and Trayce can provide. And for me, it’s an opportunity to show them what I can do with the ball in my hands.”
If Paul doesn’t return — and it seems unlikely given his age (39 next month) and salary ($30 million non-guaranteed) — Podziemski figures to become Stephen Curry’s main backup at point guard. Podziemski showed a nice feel for the game as a rookie, most notably in his rebound
ing and passing.
As he suggested in talking about summer league, Podziemski now wants to sharpen his leadership skills. Last week, sitting at his locker before the Warriors’ next-to-last regularseason game, he lauded Paul for showing him how to influence his teammates.
One night earlier, in Portland, the Blazers ran the same play three consecutive times and scored all three times. Paul immediately approached Podziemski to say, essentially, “Hey, we’ve got to figure this out.”
“I know I’m a leader, but how can I relay that on the floor when things are going wrong for our team?” Podziemski said. “Every few games I’ve had these stretches of a couple of minutes where I just let a mistake build on another mistake and another mistake. …
“So CP pointing these things out on the court has helped me understand it — and then when I’m on the court and he’s not, relaying it to other guys.”
Podziemski should merit serious consideration for all-rookie honors. But Jackson-Davis might bring even more value long term because he gives the Warriors the kind of bouncy, disruptive center they’ve lacked in recent years.
Jackson-Davis plays like he’s taller than 6-foot-9, considering his vertical ability and instincts near the basket. He said working on his body, i.e. getting stronger, will be his offseason priority.
Also, he needs to improve his agility so he can more comfortably defend guards on the perimeter as needed.
“I think that’s huge for me,” Jackson-Davis said. “Obviously being able to play small-ball 5, but also switching onto guards, especially in late shot-clock situations, using my length, altering shots, all that stuff.”
Jackson-Davis’ emergence changes the dynamic at center for the Warriors. Maybe they move on from Looney, who took a step backward this season after earning votes for Most Improved Player in 2022-23.
Put it this way: Looney corralled 20-plus rebounds three times in last year’s first-round series against the Kings. This year, he receded into the background in the season’s second half, as the Warriors went small with Green at center and then turned to Jackson-Davis.
Looney, ever classy, praised Jackson-Davis on Wednesday.
“I think Trayce can be a really, really good player,” Looney said. “His feel for the game, his athleticism and his touch around the rim are all things you can’t teach. I think he has a chance to have a long career.”