Kerr jokes Podz’ confidence drives Warriors vets ‘loopy’ initially appeared on NBC Sports activities Bay Space
Brandin Podziemski has earned the respect of many across the NBA all through his rookie 2023-24 season, particularly his Warriors teammates.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr joined 95.7 The Recreation’s “Willard & Dibs” on Tuesday and mentioned his younger guard’s NBA ascension — and the rookie’s uncommon confidence for a 21-year-old.
“He is received nice really feel for the sport; he simply sees it earlier than it occurs and that is fairly uncommon,” Kerr mentioned. “My favourite high quality of his is his confidence. He simply bounces again after powerful nights and rapidly. And that is actual confidence and self-assurance. I like that and it drives a number of the veterans loopy typically, as a result of a rookie is not speculated to behave that approach.
“Draymond [Green] mentioned it to me years in the past; he mentioned rookies must go take it. Younger gamers must go carve out their spot, and no matter which means, you have to do. And for Brandin, which means doing what he is doing all 12 months, connecting the sport for our guys with the correct minimize, the correct path, main the league in fees drawn, making a ton of gritty, loose-ball recoveries, offensive rebounds. The man is a gamer and there is a purpose he performs as a lot as he does.”
Podziemski’s spectacular demeanor has been on show all season, with Inexperienced even praising the rookie for his “irrational confidence” after a formidable displaying within the Warriors’ loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Dec. 2.
“He’s fearless,” Inexperienced advised reporters on Dec. 2. “He’s going up in opposition to James Harden like he belongs there. That’s a talent. That’s a trait that most individuals don’t possess. You’re speaking a few rookie going up in opposition to James, who has 1 MVP. … He’s taking up that problem like he’s one other man on the park. Irrational confidence. It’s superb when guys have that.”
Whereas his unwavering confidence definitely is uncommon for a rookie in his place, Kerr and Podziemski’s veteran teammates definitely recognize how NBA-ready the teenager is.
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