Before Warriors training camp was in full swing, Steve Kerr said last week that he expected third-year guard Brandin Podziemski to take another leap this season.
So far, so good for Podziemski.
On Tim Kawakami’s “The TK Show,” Kerr was asked if the young guard looked “edgy.”
“For sure. He’s a competitor. He loves the game. He has high aspirations for himself and I love that about him,” Kerr explained. “At the same time, I want him to find the edge without the emotional downswings, and that has been what is so encouraging so far.”
Kerr, in his first media availability last week, noted that there were many ups and downs for Podziemski. The Warriors coach noted that moving forward after “inevitable tough nights” would be important for Podziemski this season.
“BP has been, in camp so far, just lights-out,” Kerr said to Tim Kawakami on “The TK Show”. “He is just playing at a really high level.”
In Golden State’s first preseason game Sunday against the Los Angeles Lakers, Podziemski scored eight points in 18 minutes played. He also displayed his usual scrappy defensive ability with two steals on the night.
This is part of the ‘edge’ that Kerr wants to see. What he does not want to see from Podziemski, as he noted to media last week, was the guard’s propensity to complain to referees.
“We haven’t played a real game, but we had three NBA officials in our building… for our scrimmage. He didn’t stop and complain one time and I was thrilled with that,” Kerr noted. “I’m going to definitely stay on him about that because I think his emotion can lift our team and can also put us in a tough spot.”
Kerr notes that Podziemski’s edge can help fuel the team, but staying even-keeled will also help the young guard and the team alike weather the storm on the inevitable tougher nights.
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