Brandin Podzemski became a mainstay of the Warriors' rotation in his first season, but where exactly will the 20-year-old guard fit in compared to other rookies during the 2023-24 NBA season?
ESPN's Bobby Marks and Kevin Pelton put together a power rankings list of NBA rookies, and considering the Warriors selected the Santa Clara University product with the 19th overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, Podzemski's ranking is may be surprising.
Marks has Podzemski third in his power rankings, behind San Antonio Spurs big man Victor Wenbenyama and Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren.
Marks said of Golden State's standout rookie.
“The Warriors guards continue to fill up the stat sheet and continue to impact games,” Marks said.
“Through the first six games of February, Podzemski had 41 assists and just four turnovers, according to ESPN Stats & Information, making him the only player in the league to have six consecutive games with at least 40 assists and fewer than five turnovers, joining Nate in 1987.・He became the first rookie since McMillan.
“Podzemski ranks second in charges per game and first in total charges, ahead of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson in fourth quarter playing time over the Warriors' last 10 games. Podzemski ranks first.”
Podzemski wasn't far off on Pelton's list, coming in at No. 4 behind Holmgren, Wenbenyama and Dallas Mavericks big man Derek Lively II.
Pelton cited Podzemski's early contributions on a veteran-heavy team as the reason he was ranked so high despite being the 19th pick in his draft class.
“There are many similarities between Požemski and him.” [Miami Heat forward] Jaime Jaquez Jr. plays a key role on a veteran team as a rookie who frequently ends games,” Pelton explained, adding, “The playmaking that Bobby mentioned is similar to Podzemski in advanced statistics. “This is an important strength for us.”
“He has 5.2 assists per 36 minutes, compared to Jaquez's 3.2 assists, and while he often has audacious assists, he actually averages fewer turnovers per minute than Jaquez.”
Podzemski's well-rounded game meshes perfectly with the veteran Warriors' core, and he impacts the game in a variety of ways whenever the rookie guard is on the floor.
The 20-year-old guard averaged 9.9 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.9 assists in 26.4 minutes per game during his rookie season, earning him selection to the 2024 Rising Stars Game.
Podzemski's 2.6 win shares are tied for second among all NBA rookies this season, trailing only Lively II, who had a 3.4 win share.
As the Warriors look to make the most of the remaining years of their dynasty core, Podzemski continues to establish himself as a foundational piece moving forward now and long term.
Download and follow the Dubs Talk podcast
