Brandin Podziemski steps up as Warriors search for answers

The Warriors have spent much of this season searching for stability, especially with their stars in and out of the lineup. On Sunday, they found it in Brandin Podziemski.

With Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Kristaps Porzingis all sidelined, Podziemski took over late against Denver, scoring 15 points and grabbing eight rebounds in the fourth quarter while making all six of his shot attempts. As Nick Friedell of The Athletic noted, it was the type of stretch the Warriors badly needed.

“Everything feels slow motion,” Podziemski said. “The goal is to always try to find that. The great players do that.”

The outburst was fitting. Podziemski missed nine of his first 10 shots before flipping the switch, a snapshot of a season that’s featured fluctuating minutes, uneven production, and plenty of outside noise. Despite that, he’s become a steady scoring option with Curry out, reaching double figures in five straight games.

Coach Steve Kerr said the bigger picture matters.

“It’s been up and down for sure,” Kerr said. “But our season has been up and down as a whole. We know what he can do. For the last couple years, he’s been one of our highest plus-minus players.”

Kerr also pointed to Podziemski’s rebounding instincts, something that stood out even before he arrived from Santa Clara. On nights like Sunday, that versatility becomes essential.

The Warriors are still searching. But Podziemski is making it clear he can be part of the solution.