With two regular season games remaining, the Golden State Warriors Golden State Warriors are still aiming for a postseason berth, and two of their biggest assets this year have been Brandin Podziemski and Trayce Jackson-Davis.
Even though a few of the Warriors’ more seasoned players have struggled at points this year, Podziemski and Jackson-Davis have exceeded expectations greatly since being selected with the 19th and 57th overall picks, respectively, in the previous NBA Draft.
Guard Brandin Podziemski of the Golden State Warriors was notably omitted from yet another All-Rookie First-Team selection.
With 28 starts and an average of almost 27 minutes during his rookie campaign, Podziemski is a strong candidate for All-Rookie First Team recognition. However, according to NBA.com’s Rookie Ladder, Podziemski has once again just missed out, as was the case with the most recent projections made by Bleacher Report.
Although the frontcourt is undoubtedly made up of Brandin Miller, Chet Holmgren, and overwhelming Rookie of the Year favorite Victor Wembanyama, there is much disagreement regarding the other places.
NBA.com’s Steve Aschburner lists Jacquez and Rockets guard Amen Thompson as the final two spots on the First Team, while Bleacher Report’s Dan Favale has Jaime Jacquez Jr. and Cason Wallace closing out the lineup.
With Podziemski, 21, placing sixth on the Rookie Ladder, that makes him an apparent absence. There’s a strong and convincing argument to be made for Podziemski over any other rookie guard, as emphasized by PodzMuse on Twitter/X.
In addition to leading the league (not just rookies) in total charges drawn, the Santa Clara product is second in rookies’ overall plus-minus, third in rebounding, fourth in three-point shooting, fourth in assists per game, and first in assist-to-turnover ratio. With Eric Paschall’s 2020 selection to the All-Rookie First Team, Podziemski hopes to make history as the first player from Golden State to do so.
Meanwhile, Jackson-Davis finished eighth on the final Rookie Ladder after gaining the starting center position for Golden State in recent weeks. Given Wallace’s complete absence from the top 10 and his prediction for the All-Rookie First Team elsewhere, that in and of itself may be deemed contentious.
In 16.5 minutes a game, Jackson-Davis has averaged 7.9 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks. At the other end of the court, the 24-year-old is rapidly becoming a significant player. He and Podziemski will both still play big roles in the Warriors’ quest to qualify for the playoffs by winning the Play-In Tournament the following week.
