Podz responds to criticism that Warriors are a washed-up rock band originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
The Warriors hear the conversation. They know those outside the organization have doubts on what the team can accomplish during the 2024-25 NBA season.
And while the Warriors don’t like the criticism, they’re sure it will pay off fuel when the next season tips off at the end of October.
Second-year NBA guard Brandin Podziemski, charged with helping preserve the final years of the Warriors’ dynasty, spoke with NBC Sports Bay Area’s Laura Britt about recent comments in which an anonymous NBA coach compared. Golden State to a rock band has passed its prime.
“We don’t love to hear that, but we love to hear that in the fact that we’re going to do something that nobody expects us to do,” Podziemski told Britt on Friday at Oracle Park after he took a hit in front. the Giants game. “They don’t think we’re the Warriors that we used to be, and for us, I think it’s just the best feeling when you’ve got nothing to lose out there, and you just go out there and prove people wrong.
“I think there are a bunch of guys with that mindset who thrive on proving people wrong, and I know Steph. [Curry] is one of those guys. So just to be next to him in the backcourt and in combination with all our other guys, we’re just excited to prove people wrong.”
After winning the 2022 NBA Finals over the Boston Celtics, the Warriors lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in the second round of the 2023 NBA Finals and were then bounced out of the 2024 Western Conference playoff tournament. by the Sacramento Kings.
The Warriors finished as the No. 10 seed in the West last season and in the eyes of most analysts, they haven’t made noticeable improvements this offseason.
Franchise icon Klay Thompson is gone for the defending Western Conference champion Dallas Mavericks after contentious contract negotiations with the Warriors.
Veteran role players Buddy Hield, Kyle Anderson and De’Anthony Melton have been added to the roster, but the Warriors appear to lack a true No. 2 scorer behind Curry. Maybe Andrew Wiggins and Jonathan Kuminga can pick up the slack, but Golden State won’t find out until the season starts.
Podziemski has his own personal motivation, as he was mentioned in trade rumors all summer. But the Warriors were reluctant to part with him, even for proven NBA All-Stars. So the pressure and expectations increased for the Santa Clara product.
But Podziemski, Curry and the Warriors are feeding a silencing doubter, and that will be a loud storyline all season long.
