The Golden State Warriors will have to begin the season with a significant setback. The California franchise announced that Brandin Podziemski will be sidelined for the opener against the Lakers that will start the regular season tonight, creating an unexpected absence whose duration remains to be seen.
The guard had already missed recent practices due to a back pain, but it wasn’t until last night that his absence for the game was confirmed, a development that caught many by surprise. After all, Podziemski played all 82 games last season, and, in a roster with an aging average, his youth should help him be a constant amid the frequent ups and downs. But, at least today, that won’t be the case.
His absence joins the already known absences of Jimmy Butler, Moses Moody and Kristaps Porzingis, leaving Stephen Curry quite isolated, who, despite the scare at the end of the last preseason game, seems that he will play. ESPN’s Anthony Slater notes that the plan is to give the point guard between 28 and 32 minutes, although the progression of the game will ultimately determine exactly what the figure ends up being.
Podziemski came into the season averaging 13.8 points and 3.7 assists last regular season, though his numbers rose to 17.5 points and 4.1 assists after the All-Star break, when injuries forced him to take on more responsibility. It is that strong stretch that invites a certain optimism about his trajectory, which the Warriors seem to share after signing him to a five-year, $110 million extension.
