SAN FRANCISCO — Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski broke his nostril on Sunday night time, Steve Kerr mentioned. He’ll miss Tuesday night time’s preseason matchup in opposition to the Los Angeles Lakers in Las Vegas.
Podziemski was a restricted participant within the workforce’s transient apply and he additionally bought fitted for a masks on Monday, Kerr mentioned. The masks received’t be prepared for Tuesday’s recreation, ruling him out. However after that, he’s thought of day-to-day.
“He’ll be fine,” Kerr mentioned.
Podziemski has damaged his nostril as soon as earlier than, he mentioned, whereas he was at Santa Clara. That harm was worse as a result of he additionally bought a concussion on the collision.
However the expertise is useful as a result of he’s already used to sporting a protecting masks. He’ll use a transparent one in order to not influence his peripheral imaginative and prescient as a lot as a black one would, and he doesn’t count on to overlook a lot time in any respect.
“Just excited that I can still play,” Podziemski mentioned.
Podziemski, 21, averaged 9.2 factors, 5.8 rebounds and three.7 assists per recreation final yr, incomes a First-Crew All-Rookie choice. He led the NBA in fees drawn and was a relentless in a lot of Golden State’s best lineup mixtures.
Podziemski is Golden State’s most suitable choice as a backup level guard, however he additionally suits effectively subsequent to Steph Curry within the beginning lineup. Whether or not he begins or comes off the bench, Podziemski is anticipated to be among the many Warriors’ leaders in minutes per recreation.
“I’m not a big fan of a minutes restriction,” Podziemski mentioned. “If I’m healthy to play, I want to play as much as I can. I just always want to be available, so not being able to play tomorrow kind of sucks. Even though it’s preseason. But yeah, I definitely take pride — I want to always lead the team in minutes, games played, stuff like that.”
This offseason, Podziemski prioritized creating his personal shot extra, together with off-the-dribble jumpers. He desires to chop out the floaters and hook pictures from his recreation, emphasizing the extra environment friendly pictures on the court docket.
Podziemski mentioned he appears like he’s improved, and has skilled that sensation whereas on the court docket this preseason. The sport has slowed down for him, he mentioned, and reads within the pick-and-roll have gotten simpler.
On two separate events this preseason, Podziemski tossed over-the-head advance passes in transition that led to simple fast-break buckets. The Warriors need to play with extra tempo, and he has a knack for the run-and-gun model.
This preseason hasn’t been all clean for the guard, although. He bought a shoulder stinger in apply and bought hit within the mouth in opposition to the Kings, inflicting him to go away final Wednesday’s recreation briefly. His damaged nostril got here on pleasant hearth, when he tried to twist round Trayce Jackson-Davis for a handoff however ended up operating into his elbow.
Typically, gamers can get thrown off by head accidents, notably whereas sporting a protecting masks. However Kerr isn’t involved about that with Podziemski.
“He led the league in charges drawn last year for a reason,” Kerr mentioned of Podziemski. “He literally sticks his nose in there. He’s just physically a really tough player. I talked to him, and he said he’s not worried. The mask thing, that takes some adjusting, to play with a mask. So we’ll see how that goes. But he’s not afraid of anything, he’ll be out there as soon as they allow him to be.”
Notable
— Andrew Wiggins is anticipated to return to the lineup on Tuesday for his first preseason motion. The Warriors wing was below the climate throughout coaching camp in Hawaii and has since labored his method again to game-condition.
— Kevin Knox has had a robust camp, Kerr mentioned Monday, however his future with the Warriors is unsure. Since Knox is on a non-guaranteed, Exhibit-10 contract, TKTK
— Lindy Waters III, considered one of a handful of Native American NBA gamers, celebrated Indigenous Peoples Day on Monday.
“Me, Marjon (Beauchamp) and Kyrie (Irving), I would say, are the three main ones in the NBA that really carry that heritage with us. We take it upon ourselves to have that responsibility, to be there for our community. so, getting to celebrate that with everyone around us is amazing.”
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