Brandin Podziemski underwent left wrist debridement surgery Tuesday in Los Angeles, the Warriors announced (via Twitter). He’s expected to make a full recovery and be ready when training camp opens this fall.
There had been no indication that Podziemski was dealing with a wrist injury before Wednesday night’s announcement. He appeared in all 12 of Golden State’s playoff contests and led the team with 28 points in the Game 5 loss to Minnesota two weeks ago.
The second-year guard struggled with his shot during the postseason, which could have been a result of the wrist ailment. After connecting at 44.5% from the field and 37.2% from beyond the arc during the regular season, those numbers dropped to 36.4% and 32.8% in the playoffs.
According to the San Jose Mercury News (subscription required), the University of California San Francisco’s Department of Surgery states that the debridement procedure “involves thoroughly cleaning the wound and removing all hyperkeratotic (thickened skin or callus), infected, and nonviable (necrotic or dead) tissue, foreign debris, and residual material from dressings.”
Podziemski quickly made an impact with the Warriors after being selected out of Santa Clara with the 19th pick in the 2023 draft. He immediately earned a spot in coach Steve Kerr‘s rotation and finished fifth in the 2024 Rookie of the Year race.
He turned 22 in February and appears to be a long-term fixture for a Golden State team that needs more production from its younger players to ease the burden on Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler.
That’s Steph, Jimmy, Moody and Podz all injured to end the year.
Moody and Podziemski’s shots were terrible the last couple weeks and in the playoffs, a wrist injury would do that…cant wait to see these guys non-injured…
I can’t wait to see Moody in green and white, as the third rotation piece heading to Milwaukee, and Giannis co-leading the Dubs as a serious threat to OKC’s West (Finals too?) crown. It’s our only hope, Davey J. I know I’m being a broken record right now. The current construct is NOT enough. Steph needs a MEGA scoring threat for ANY of us to realistically fantasize about #5. Steph knows this; Dray knows this; Kerr knows this; MDJ knows this. I tell it how it is, Davey J. Cam Johnson for Kuminga would be NICE, but probably not enough.
Jimmy for KD 1-1 works too. The “broke the league” team had KD and Klay (and then Poole). Buddy was awful this year, he ain’t it. Too small and didn’t work with Steph out there like Poole did. Giannis or KD solve a lot of GSW’s problems and I think someone like Fox can be had via trade as well.
I want Ben Simmons as backup PG. We need the tallest team possible. There’s so many 6’7″ to 6’11” guards in the league now, GSW rapidly has to move on from small ball. Don’t even give Kerr the chance. Literally only have Steph as the only guy under 6’6″ on the roster. We cannot trust Kerr with short (for NBA), under 6’6″ players anymore. Going big will shore up the defense. The team basically gave up vs every scoring big this year, was so gross to watch. SGA is a 6’6″ PG and GSW has no size to put on him.
Aside from that elite scorer, GSW need tall, defending bigs more than anything, they also should replace Kerr with Andre and move on from small ball forever
Why would you want Ben Simmons as a backup PG? That is really bizarre.
Butler for Giannis isn’t enough or even close…. Throw in Kuminga, Moody, podz and Jackson-Davis with picks too.
You can find a tall PG in the draft or millions of free agents out there
The warriors need a veteran C starter!!!!!!!!
@ Davey
This team had the best defense in the league after the Butler trade while not fully healthy.
Guess what? There are ZERO 6’11” guards in the league.
Butler for KD would make the team worse, and Simmons is done. (And Giannis would have to specifically say trade me to GSW).
There’s no way they dismantle the team by making the trades you’re suggesting.
@ The Chosen
Giannis would have to specifically ask to be traded to GSW. That seems unlikely.
Davey J and The Chosen Dud are either the same person or they share the same brain cell.
You know what, I can see it after you wrote this and reading chosen Dud comment.
It sounds like David J !! Wow great detective work. I would never have thought of that without you pointing it out.
@GaryRSW
I don’t think it’s true, although it does look slightly fishy.
Wrt your game 3 prediction, good job. But the Twolves couldn’t do it 2 games in a row at home, with Ant getting outplayed and worse, claiming he played “the right way”.
I’ll be surprised if the Pacers can get more than 1 win against this OKC juggernaut!
Yes, the wolves did what they had to do in game 3 and that was muster up everything possible for a double digit win.
OKC did the natural thing and rolled over though that is rare for such a well oiled machine as the thunder right now. I would say that I am surprised They caved in game 3 and let it happen.
But we have to realize the style of play for the thunder takes a lot of energy and commitment and each player is sold on the team and it’s success.
Letting off the gas for one game is excusable and no problem, especially considering another must win game 4 for the wolves. The result was the thunder stepped on their throats and there was no rolling over.
Then of course, game 5 last night, the thunder steamrolled through any inkling of a wolves threat.
Yes NBA is OK, Defensively, OKC is a juggernaut of immense proportions. That’s swarming 110% effort and commitment to help and cover teammates is such a refreshing sight.
You’re right, I don’t see Indiana making any headway against this team.
But I’ll stop short of any predictions considering my recent track record lol. I do love going for the underdog as I did in that last series because if you’re right, you’re a genius lol.
Congratulations to OKC on a finals appearance this year. We don’t have to wait for them to be ready next year.., they are ready this year. Great job.
NBAisOK ,
You know more than me, I’m not arguing, but given that Giannis will have to chose a team (as in, no team would want him if he doesn’t want them), why do you think GSW wouldn’t be a good choice for him?
@aristotle:
Does this reply mean you’ve removed the mute? because I usually can’t reply to your comments here.
I don’t think Giannis wants to go to a team without a starting level center. But he has said he likes Steph, so it’s certainly possible he might decide to come to SF.
@NBAisOK I have never muted you! I just checked my settings to confirm that. Funny, because you’re on the short list of my preferred posters.
DaveyJ and I have long had this same problem: we can’t reply directly to each other. Prolly a bug in this 1990’s forum software.
I hadn’t heard that Giannis would insist on having a legit center, but sounds right.
Given how few stretch centers there are, I can’t see Giannis fitting with GSW. Assuming that either Draymond or Jimmy would also be a Warrior, a non-shooting center, plus Giannis plus either Draymond or Jimmy puts three non-shooters on the front line, which Kerr insists is unworkable.
Basically, if we trade for Giannis, we would also have to move both Draymond and Jimmy.
@aristotle
Good to hear, I’ve never muted anyone and can usually reply to everyone else.
I wonder if Giannis will actually decide to leave Milwaukee.
They would have won the Title if Steph hadn’t gone down (🧐)
Probably from all the charges he takes, flops included.
He still has 5862 to catch LeBron on flops
Blasphemy, LeBron couldn’t have racked up that number …. he hasn’t played defense in the last 6 to 8 years now.
But remember LeBron has been flopping his whole career
he flops on offense and defense. He taught Reeves how to flop too
New achievement unlocked
Warriors are really falling apart. Good think they signed a youthful, healthy player that wont be 37 soon to a 60 million dollars a year contract!
2 injuries means they are falling apart? When people play sports, they have tendency to get injured. I guess you didn’t know that.
The realities:
1) Based on age, the 2026 Dubs are more likely to be less healthy than healthier. Hamstring strains are, by-and-large, age related.
2) Kerr’s resolute faith in Podz is counter-productive. By faith I mean that once Steph went down in the playoffs, Podz had 37% more ball-possession time than Jimmy (Basketball Reference). And most of it wasn’t pretty.
3) JK made a s*it-ton of money once Steph went down. Kerr had written JK out of the playoff rotation and that’s a tough negotiating position for an agent.
4) The NBA salary 2nd-apron could be nick-named
whoops, hit the wrong button on prior post.
4) Nick-named the “Light-Years” Apron as it was built based on the Dubs lapping the field in salary during the KD years. It’s going to be really, really, really hard for the Dubs to get Giannis because of the 2nd-apron; and adding Cam Johnson isn’t going to propel the team to a Title…
5) The 2025 Dubs would never have playoffs comebacks of the Pacers, because Kerr quits and pulls the starters when down double digits with 2:30 to go 🤣
Hamstring injuries only come with age? Where did you get that idea?
You really think Kuminga is going to get more than what they offered him at the beginning of the season? He kinda struggled most of the season. He definitely had a down year.
Podz play in the second half of the season got the Warriors into the playoffs. Why not stick with him?
> Hamstring injuries only come with age? Where did
> you get that idea?
They don’t ONLY come with age, but in this case it was an “over-use” injury. The docs said so, and it was on the league injury report… and Steph said in his exit interview that it was the type of injury he hopes to avoid by playing less next season.
@TonyInSingapore’s general point is sound: it’s reasonable to expect increasing injuries and reduced availability in the future is sound.
At the beginning of this past 2024-25 season, Kerr said that since Steph wore down so much at the end of the 2023-24 season, he would have an effective minutes restriction of 32 mins per game, along with plenty of games off. As Kerr likes to say, “I lied”.
I got that idea from my friends that are professional MLB. They call hamstring strains “an old man’s injury”…
@tonyinsingapore great posts, keep ‘em coming.
Moody, Podz and Steph got hurt. Steph, Jimmy and Draymond are VERY old in a league that gets younger by the minute. Kuminga will most likely leave and he was their most promising young player left.
They played the two timelines and now they will have zero timelines. A lot of that is to blame on Draymond who has brain issues and punched Jordan Poole, but thats in the past. This team is in the gutter.
Jordan Poole has brain issues. Giving him that contract was a huge mistake.
Brabo- regarding there actually 0 timelines because GSW can’t execute any plan successfully, ok, fair point, but consider how the 2 sets of stake-holders differ on the matter.
1) Last gasp guys:
To Kerr, Steph, and Draymond there is one timeline and it lasts two years. They would like Kuminga, Moody, Podz, and future draft picks to be exchanged now for vets that can help immediately.
2) Ownership and front office:
To Lacob and Dunleavy, there MUST be two timelines: the next two years AND what comes after, in 24 months. Chase Center seats go empty and billions of dollars are lost if the W’s suck for years post-Steph. Lacob will not part with his young players and draft capital unless that makes them ‘Chip contenders.
Kerr has said bluntly in recent interviews that next season is about 3 players (Steph, Jimmy, and Dray) and he expects the W’s to acquire 3 things this off-season:
1) a starting center (i.e., not Post, TJD, or Draymond)
2) outside shooters (i.e, not Moody)
3) wing defenders (i.e., not Kuminga, Moody, or Podz)
Basically, Kerr wants at least 4 new, proven rotation players. Unlike last summer, Kerr is not mentioning Podz, JK and TJD as future contributors. (The comments about being willing to try out Kuminga again, but him being better off elsewhere notwithstanding.) There is no more pretense about valuing young players. It’s 1 more season or bust.
We’ll see what Lacob and Dunleavy do.
Bravo, that take (about the Warriors being old) is muchstronger 3 months later than in the day of the Butler trade. Since then, we’ve seen:
1) 3 stars showing signs of aging: Jimmy and Dray ran out of gas in the 2nd round, and Steph gets an over-use injury and misses whole series
2) young, deep, injury-free, athletic playoff teams like OKC and Indiana looking vastly superior to GSW
3) head coach saying the team still has multiple holes to fill: starting center, outside shooting, and athletic defenders
It’s funny how fast things change. After winning the Houston series, I felt W’s were a top 4 team. Today, I’ll settle for top 10 — assuming Steph, Jimmy, and Dray stay available (defying probability).
Jimmy is known for coasting the regular season and he has been injury prone his last couple of years in Miami.
The way this roster is currently constructed, even with Jimmy, Steph has to carry a way too big load for them to be at least mediocre.
The thing is Jimmy is pretty much untradeable and the Warriors will have all that money tied to him until Steph is 40. The young promising stars of the Warriors have either left (like Jordan Poole and probably Kuminga soon) or simply havent been as good as expected.
They have no cap space, no real assets, aging roster, injuries, lack of shooting. It’s a mess.
Jimmy was cooking to end the season and start the playoffs until he was hurt. Second round fell apart. I dont know what Draymond could have energy for on defense when they were working so hard trying to find offense.
Moody and Podz were both bricking the whole MIN series, but Podz had a taped wrist and thumb on his same hand that just got worked on and Moody just had a surgery on his shooting hand, so you would hope that they both were playing hurt and will be much more effective if healthy.
The one good thing with their needs is that they have all their draft picks once this draft happens to work with. I would love love love them getting Trey Murphy from NOP. He is literally exactly what theyre missing.
Chapman,
What OKC has just shown matters for the Warriors. Lakob says he’ll spend more if it gives the Warriors a shot at winning a Championship. The gap is too wide.
The larger problem is the age and availability of the big 3. No successful team has ever relied so heavily on old players. In the Spurs’ last years, their big 3 played less than 30 mins per game, and were strictly load managed. Plus the Spurs had Kahwi and a ton of depth.
It’s unreasonable to expect a 38, 36, and 36 year old group to be available enough to contend for a Championship. Look at their games and minutes played for the past 5 years. Realistically they’ll miss about 60 games. Realistically, one of them will be injured at some point in the playoffs.
Lakob will look at this way; if (in the unlikely event) everybody stays healthy and GSW can get a legit center, plus some outside shooting, and plus some wing defenders, they could win 56 games.
Trey Murphy is literally the Pelicans center piece, why would they trade him for some bad picks? Unless it is 2030 unprotected 1st rounder and 2 other firsts, that is NEVER happening
Agree. Trey Murphy will not be traded by the Pelicans
New GM to be seen what he wants to do. Murphy would probably get him the biggest return.
6’7 SF playing C is ugly basketball.
You trade Murray and Missi for a veteran C.
Murray is the one who needs to go
Easy
@Luke
I can’t imagine they’d be dumb enough to trade Missi after his excellent rookie season. The kid just turned 21 – Easy double double player next season getting paid $3.35 mil with 3 years left on his contract.
There are no available veteran centers that would play better.
If they offered Missi to Brooklyn for Claxton then I would. NOP doesn’t need two timelines. Zion is the timeline . I understand Missi is nice but young. NOP needs to win now and not need young prospects
Excellent rookie season, How about a decent rookie season
I went through a debridement procedure a couple weeks ago for a wound on my leg. If they knock Brandin out, he’ll get through it well and heal up in 1-2 months. It’s hard to function properly with a wound like that.
I don’t watch a lot of the Warriors’ games because I follow Denver, but I like what I’ve seen from him. He’ll be in the league for a long time.
I know they grown the high end stuff in wine country…….
What do grapes have to do with wrist injuries?
That explains the shot mechanics. Anti brick surgery included?
Its just weird seeing a lefty shoot
Resign Kuminga and then Looney if possible
Looks like they will have to entice a veteran C starter to come for cheap in free agency.
Draft a PG or C