Warriors’ Brandin Podziemski named to NBA’s All-Rookie first team

Podziemski led the NBA in charges drawn and ranked second among all rookies in net rating.

Brandin Podziemski earned a selection to the NBA’s All-Rookie first team, notorizing an impressive campaign with the Warriors.

Podziemski is on the first team with Heat forward Jaime Jaquez Jr., Charlotte’s Brandon Miller, Oklahoma City’s Chet Holmgren and unanimous Rookie of the Year winner Victor Wembanyama.

Warriors center Trayce Jackson-Davis came one vote shy of a second-team selection, with GG Jackson II receiving 43 voting points to his 42. Jackson, Cason Wallace, Keyonte George, Amen Thompson and Dereck Lively II make up the Second Team.

Podziemski averaged 9.2 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game while leading the NBA with 38 charges drawn. His playmaking feel and ball-handling allowed him to blend in with most lineups Steve Kerr tried. At 6-foot-5, the rookie led the Warriors in total rebounds.

Podziemski, the 19th pick in last year’s draft, ranked second among rookies who played at least 40 games in net rating, behind only Chet Holmgren.

Podziemski ranked third among rookies in 3-point field goal percentage (38.5), fifth in assists (3.7), sixth in rebounds (5.8), eighth in minutes (26.6) and 10th in both scoring (9.2) and steals (0.8).

The complete voting results for the 2023-24 Kia NBA All-Rookie Team: pic.twitter.com/XNBPruS5FO

— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) May 20, 2024

Jackson-Davis, meanwhile, provided a new element to the Warriors as a lob threat and shot-blocker. He ranked third among rookies — behind just Victor Wembanyama and Dereck Lively — in rebounding percentage.

In the second half of the year, Jackson-Davis played himself into Golden State’s starting lineup, working with Draymond Green to create a stouter frontcourt. The center averaged 7.9 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game while shooting 70.2% from the floor.

In win shares, Jackson-Davis (4.8) and Podziemski (4.1) ranked second and fifth on the Warriors. Without their contributions, Golden State would’ve had an even more disappointing season than its play-in tournament loss as the 10th seed in the West.

The last All-Rookie player Golden State had was Eric Paschall, who made the 2019-20 first team.

This is a developing story.