Rounding up all Warriors and NBA related news for Thursday, November 21st.
The Golden State Warriors continued their strong start to the season with another blowout victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night, 120-97.
However, despite the team’s success, one player who continues to face challenges this season is their promising second-year player Brandin Podziemski. The young guard—who was named NBA All-Rookie First Team a year ago—struggled again last night, shooting 1-of-6 from the field for just three points. Through the first 14 games, he’s shooting 36.8% from the floor, including a troubling 20.8% from beyond the arc and 60% from the free-throw line.
Following the win, the Warriors’ Draymond Green addressed the pressure Podziemski is putting on himself. Green urged the young guard to ease up and not let the weight of expectations hinder his performance.
Draymond Green on Brandin Podziemski's slow start to his sophomore season:
— KNBR (@KNBR) November 21, 2024
"The amount of pressure that he puts on himself with each shot is insane. And so I'm saying this also so I hope he hear it. Me and Steph talk to him every day. Like, who cares? Miss seven of them. No one… pic.twitter.com/dDNd0nr4JW
Green’s comments serve as a reminder that development takes time in the NBA, and after a strong rookie season, Podziemski was bound to experience a slump at some point. Injuries have also played a role in his struggles, but despite these challenges, it’s clear that the Warriors remain committed to helping Podziemski regain his confidence as the season moves along.
For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Thursday, November 21st:
Not good ☹️ pic.twitter.com/1ObDoeoXCH
— 95.7 The Game (@957thegame) November 20, 2024
The Warriors plan to apply for a $6.4 million disabled player exception for Melton’s injury, team sources said, but it’ll be nearly impossible to find a path to use it. They are less than $1 million below and locked at the first apron, so finding an avenue to generate enough space to use it doesn’t sound feasible considering the constraints.
But that doesn’t mean Melton’s contract isn’t a valuable chip come transaction season. Expiring contracts, especially when attached to assets, are appealing to rebuilding teams or any franchise in the new apron world that is trying to generate future financial flexibility and can grab an asset in the meantime.
Melton’s contract, attached to a draft pick, might be able to fetch a capable rotation player in January or February from a team like the Raptors or Nets. The Warriors also have a ton of other mid-sized contracts (Kevon Looney, Gary Payton II, Kuminga) to add to Melton as a building block to make any big or medium-sized deal happen.
“We’ve got a lot of guys that can fill that role,” Waters told NBC Sports Bay Area after Wednesday’s 120-97 win over the Atlanta Hawks at Chase Center. “If you got Steph [Curry], [Draymond Green], Trayce [Jackson-Davis] and [Andrew Wiggins], you can throw any other fifth guy in there and he’ll be good.”
For now, Kerr isn’t interested in using anyone else. The job belongs to Waters, and the Warriors coach doesn’t see that changing any time soon.
“I’m committed to that right now,” Kerr said. “He’s a good fit next to that group. I like bringing Buddy [Hield] off the bench. Starting Lindy allows us to keep the bench intact and gives us another shooter and defender in the starting lineup.”
Luckily, it appears Podziemski escaped without significant injury this time, per coach Steve Kerr after the game at Chase Center.
“He had X-rays on his nose,” Kerr told reporters about Podziemski’s status. “He got hit in the face with, I think an elbow. But the X-rays were negative, so — so far, so good.”
When asked if Podziemski’s status is best described as day to day, Kerr agreed that’s the best approximation he could offer.
Steve Kerr addresses the fact that Jonathan Kuminga has played under 20 minutes for three straight games: pic.twitter.com/LLDS10vnWq
— KNBR (@KNBR) November 21, 2024
Sixers officials said further testing will be done Thursday. It was the same knee that George hyperextended in the preseason, forcing him to miss the first five games of the regular season.
Asked if he could rule out structural damage to George’s knee, coach Nick Nurse said, “I think so.”
“I think they said it was similar to last time, which was a bone bruise, I think,” Nurse said. “He was actually fairly close to coming back in the game, but then it kind of stiffened up as he got out a little bit more, so I decided not to, and now we got to take a look at it, make sure.”
“Whoever leaked that is a real piece of s—,” Embiid said.
“We talked about a lot of things. I don’t want to get into detail. But that whole thing, that part of it, took probably 40 seconds. But it’s Joel Embiid, so things will always get blown out of proportion. It’s whatever, though. I’ll take it. I’m the reason for everything, so I guess I’ll take the blame for everything.
“There was nothing malicious being said. I like when people are telling me when I’m not doing good and when I need to be better. That part of it (tardiness) probably happened once or twice when I wasn’t playing. So I need to be better. I need to be perfect. I need to be on point, which I’m going to do.”
Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic has sustained a wrist injury and is expected to miss time, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/QxZuKaDyAl
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 21, 2024
Andrew Wiggins
30 minutes, 27 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 blocks, 1 foul, 12-for-17 shooting, 3-for-6 threes, 79.4% TS, +27
Oh yeah. Ohhhh yeah. That’s the good stuff. This was everything the Warriors dream of with Wiggins. Decisive and aggressive offense with no ball-holding. Transition athleticism. Endless energy attacking the glass. Locked-in defense on and off the ball.
Wiggins was a beast in every phase of the game. 11/10, no notes.
Grade: A+
Post-game bonus: Led the team in points.
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