How Podz hopes to fill Warriors Klay void in 2024-25 season

How Podz hopes to fill Warriors Klay void in 2024-25 season originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

It won’t be easy, and it won’t happen quickly, but Brandin Podziemski is eager to fill the defensive void left by Klay Thompson next season.

Despite a pressure-filled second season, the young guard is stepping up to take over Thompson’s role and guard the opposing team’s best guard, which typically gives teammate Steph Curry more freedom to move in transition.

Speaking to The Athletic’s Anthony Slater, Podziemski revealed his ambition to fill the role of Warrior.

“With Steph there, you’re not going to have him guarding the best guard,” Podziemski told Slater. “So, it’s up to me to take on that challenge that Klay used to take on.”

After an impressive All-Rookie season in his first NBA season, Podziemski has wasted no time in improving both sides of his game this offseason.

From May to July, the guard went from guarding Curry and Jrue Holiday as an invitee to Team USA’s Olympic training camp to scoring 37 points in a two-game summer league campaign against Golden State.

Although Podziemski received plenty of playing time and improved his offensive skills, nothing was as valuable as defending the gold medal winners in Las Vegas.

After all, it’s the improvements in his defensive game that could earn him a bigger role with the Warriors next season, and Podziemski doesn’t want to pass up that opportunity.

“It’s something I want and that can’t be the reason Steve doesn’t let me play because I can’t defend their best guard,” Podziemski told Slater.

Much of the Warriors’ dynasty was built on the legendary Curry-Thompson backcourt, which flourished at its peak thanks to Thompson’s defensive skills and Curry’s unmatched offensive prowess.

In addition to his shooting ability, Thompson was named to the All-Defensive team after successfully defending opponents’ biggest offensive threats, giving Chef the energy to outplay opponents.

Whether Podziemski – or a tandem with Curry – can achieve similar results remains a big question mark that has yet to be answered.

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