Plowden and Podziemski lead Warriors to Summer League win

Daeqwon Plowden and the Warriors’ second-year players shone in a 90-73 win over the Suns

Before the game, three men in the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas sat down together, all wearing Brandin Podziemski jerseys. The fans or family members got to see a big game from the Warriors’ second-year guard as he put up 16 points in the Golden State Warriors’ 90-73 win over the Phoenix Suns.

Podziemski did most of his damage early, nailing a few off-the-dribble three-pointers as Golden State took a big lead early. He took most of the duties as primary ball handler in Saturday night’s game, a sign that he may effectively be the Warriors’ backup point guard as well as their starting shooting guard next season. It’s fitting that some of his long-range shots were Curry-esque, pulling up from well behind the arc.

After a debut season that landed him on the All-Rookie first team, it’s no surprise that Podziemski excelled in his first Las Vegas game. Same goes for Trayce Jackson-Davis, who nearly made the All-Rookie second team, and put up 10 points a seven rebounds in Saturday’s win. They’re both in the vaunted category of Too Good For Summer League, and the Warriors may sit them both after this weekend.

But the 19 points Golden State got from Daeqwon Plowden were indeed a surprise. Plowden shot 8-for-12 and 3-for-4 from three-point range, adding a steal and a block. The 6-foot-6 wing out of Bowling Green spent the last two seasons in the G-League, first with the New Orleans Pelicans’ affiliate and then the farm team of the Orlando Magic. Plowden shot 39% from three-point range last year for the Osceola Magic, averaging almost a block and a steal per game.

The Warriors are clearly interested in adding Plowden to the Santa Cruz Warriors, but he has an outside shot at a two-way deal, given the team’s clear interest in adding wings who can shoot. Buddy Hield and Lindy Waters III have already joined the team, but the 25-year-old Plowden, who made the MAC’s All-Defensive team in 2022, could provide even more depth — especially if some of their existing wing depth heads to the Utah Jazz in a Lauri Markkanen trade.

Santa Cruz Warriors forward Jordan Rowe had 14 points and 9 boards, hitting two threes and delivering a number of dunks.

Former lottery pick Kevin Knox II came off the bench but shot only 3-for-11 on his way to nine points. He’s bounced around the league quite a bit in his six seasons so he’s not two-way eligible, but Knox is the kind of NBA veteran the team likes to have in Santa Cruz.

In other Summer League notes, Vegas was nearly 100 degrees and rainy Saturday, and the Dairy Queen Blizzards were an NBA media favorite. There was also a fan in an Andris Biedrins jersey who no less than four people pointed out to this author, every time a delight.