Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr had high praise for the team’s No. 19 pick, Brandin Podziemski.
Speaking on the Pull Up! podcast with BJ Mathews and Rick Masters, Kerr seemed mighty excited to have the 20-year-old in their ranks.
“We were excited that he was available. There were a couple of guys we were really interested in knowing who might be available when we picked, and he was one of them. So we were thrilled.”
He further added: “The reason we were excited is he’s got a really good set of tools. He can dribble, pass, shoot. He’s unafraid. He’s got a good size. He can build a lot of momentum going to the hoop. He’s got a nice float game. He shot 43.8% from three last year at Santa Clara, and he averaged 8.5 rebounds per game which is almost unheard of for a guard. So, a lot of great numbers—numbers that translate well, too.”
“There are certain numbers that usually translate, and rebounding is one of them that shows a real knack for the ball and anticipating plays. We like Brandin’s skill set, and also just his makeup and aggressiveness. We think he’s got a chance to be a really good player.”
It’s an extensive piece of information that Kerr has on his young prospect. And while he did laud the young gun, he also added that he will be keeping an eye on him during training camp, and then figure out a roadmap ahead of the league.
Podziemski averaged 19.9 points, 8.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.8 steals per game last season with Santa Clara. While the numbers are indeed promising, it remains to be seen if he indeed has what it takes to make the cut in the league.
The Warriors Will Be One Of The Teams To Watch Out For Next Season
With the Warriors getting Chris Paul into the mix for Jordan Poole, they made quite the move in swinging for a veteran who has seen a bit of a decline. There is also no word in the team re-signing Draymond Green.
Earlier, JJ Redick opined on the issue the Warriors would have with CP3 in their fold. “Chris is smart enough, he’s one of the smartest basketball players ever,” Redick said. “He’s gonna figure out a way to contribute and help them win games, but the contrast in play style is very apparent. He’s a methodical player, he’s calculated, all of that stuff.”
He further added: “The numbers back it up,” Redick continued. “There’s some great stuff on this. So speed on offense: Warriors this past year had the sixth fastest average speed on offense. Paul had the slowest average speed on offense amongst players with 1000 minutes played. Average touch length… The Warriors had the shortest average touch length on offense at 2.7 seconds. Chris Paul had the seventh-longest average touch length at 5.6 seconds.”
For now, Paul and the Warriors claim to be a perfect fit. But the actual picture will be clear when they take the court next season.
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