Brandin Podziemski has once again come under fire from Golden State Warriors fans over a sequence in their 143-133 loss to the Dallas Mavericks at Chase Center on Sunday. In the fourth quarter, Podziemski managed to fake out Luka Doncic in the corner but hesitated to shoot and ended up getting his shot blocked.
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Other Warriors fans weren't much kinder.
"1,000,000% Agree!!! Oh my god! Sophomore slump? I think he was just lucky last year," one fan believes Podziemki's rookie season was a fluke.
"Didn’t see how he was that good last year. Can’t stand him this year," one fan can't even stand watching Podziemski anymore.
"Kuminga’s reaction is priceless. JK is all of us," one fan sympathized with Jonathan Kuminga.
"Gleague! I don’t think he has value right now," one fan wants Podziemski to be sent to the G League.
"Honestly that's not even his fault no one tried to get open or even cut," one fan came to Podziemski's defense.
While I think Podziemski did mess up on this play, his teammates could have moved around a bit to help him out. They all just stood around and ensured that the possession ended disastrously.
Podziemski ended up missing all three of the shots that he took in the fourth quarter and finished the game with three points (1-5 FG), one rebound, and two assists. While Warriors fans were up in arms over his performance, head coach Steve Kerr praised the guard in his postgame press conference.
"I thought Brandin did a nice job," Kerr said. "He came in when Steph (Curry) was out and had a couple of good stretches defensively. It's about just coming every night and competing and playing and that's what our guys are doing and I'm very proud of them."
Kerr had spoken to Podziemski near the bench for about a minute after the game but refused to reveal what their conversation was about. His public support for the guard has angered some sections of the fanbase, but he criticized him at times as well.
Kerr called out Podziemski after the Warriors' loss to the Denver Nuggets on Dec. 3. He wanted him to make better decisions and the guard certainly didn't do that on that play.
Podziemski is now averaging just 7.7 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 0.8 steals, and 0.3 blocks per game in 2024-25. For much of last season, it looked like the Warriors had struck gold by selecting him with the 19th pick, but to say he hasn't kicked on from then would be an understatement.
Podziemski now looks set to have his minutes cut as well after the Warriors traded for Dennis Schroder. The 21-year-old is going from someone who was once considered untouchable to someone who might be very expendable.
The Warriors will be in action next against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum on Thursday at 8 PM ET. Podziemski had one of his better games of the season when these teams last met, with 11 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and a steal on Nov. 15, and perhaps he will put in another good showing in this clash.
