Demotions often carry the connotation of being a negative outcome. The perception of an individual who is pegged down a notch or two in the pecking order is one who didn’t do their job properly, or someone who did not or has not lived up to expectations. Therefore, a demotion is a measure through which that individual is placed in his or her proper standing, until he or she can prove otherwise.
Within the context of the NBA, demotions can be a temporary measure, but it is often an unforgiving one.
The line between a rotation player and an end-of-bench cheerleader is razor thin, and it is a line that can easily be crossed if teammates perform at a higher level, therefore threatening to surpass an individual in the rotation.
For Brandin Podziemski, a demotion from being a starter to virtually the first or second man off the bench was warranted. In trying to do too much as a featured player, he ended up with contributions that were either too little or too deviating from the collective intention of the team, which ended up doing more harm than good.
The nature of the harm that Podziemski was inflicting upon himself and the team was that of indecision and doubt, two tenets that negatively affected his on-court play (and belied the confidence with which he carried himself). Too many an instance involved him holding the ball for too long, both at the start and most especially at the end of his touch time, something that doesn’t subscribe to the “point-five” philosophy that Steve Kerr has preached during his time as coach of the Golden State Warriors. While Podziemski is not the sole reason for why the team’s offense has scuffled, his early season play certainly has contributed to the quagmire.
A rather vague but telling statistic can also shine a light as to why Podziemski’s effectiveness has waned. At his best, Podziemski is a connective decision maker who thrives as an offensive middleman, with those connective sequences often happening in the literal “middle” of the painted area. As early as his stint during the 2023 Summer League, he had shown a particular knack for getting to the paint, collapsing defenses, and making decisions in that sliver of space that he could get to almost at will.
In his rookie season, Podziemski averaged 2.2 paint touches per game, per the NBA’s tracking data. Among 155 guards who played a minimum 50 games during the 2023-24 season, that figure ranked 11th.
In the 2024-25 season, that number dipped slightly to 2.0 paint touches per game, 25th among 154 guards who played a minimum 50 games. So far during this season, Podziemski’s paint touches have dipped even further: 1.3 per game, 41st among 153 guards who have played a minimum 18 games.
Perhaps more important than just the quantity of Podziemski’s paint touches was what he decided to do with his paint excursions. Too many an instance involved him holding the ball, getting stuck amid the trees of tall and lengthy defenders, and bogging down the flow of the entire offense. Again, the premise of the offense (pace and quick decision making) dies a rather ugly death if the pace slows to a crawl (therefore, letting the defense get settled) and the decision that is made isn’t ideal.
Kerr would much rather see these kinds of possessions from Podziemski: a quick attack off a drag screen by Draymond Green, touching the paint, and delivering the ball to a cutting Gary Payton II:
When pushing the pace — either off of opponent misses or makes — it would behoove Podziemski to know where his teammates are at all times, especially those who are filling the corners (and most especially if he decides to execute a jump pass, often a dangerous maneuver but effective if properly performed, as Tyrese Haliburton can attest to). Once Podziemski touches the paint and draws defenders toward him, it’s a simple decision to kick the ball out to a corner shooter:
What would also help greatly is Podziemski returning to the floater-range efficiency he showcased last season, during which he shot 47 percent on “short” mid-range attempts (defined as shots taken in the area outside of four feet from the rim but inside 14 feet), 72nd percentile among combo guards, per Cleaning the Glass. This season, that number has dropped to 39 percent (49th percentile).
In-between shot making would greatly supplement his in-between decision making and passing, in that teams’ decisions with regard to his paint touches will be made much more difficult if Podziemski becomes an in-between threat. After Steph Curry draws defenders inward in the possession below, a swing-swing possession places the Orlando Magic defense in rotation, with Podziemski on the move before he catches the pass (called a “stampede” cut or “boom” drive). He gets to the middle of the paint and drills the floater:
For that matter, an overall improvement in his in-between shot making — which includes long mid-range shots (those that are outside of 14 feet from the rim and inside the three-point line) — would be a much-needed development for Podziemski. On such shots, he is shooting 41 percent, 57th percentile among combo guards. Along with quietly putting a career-mark on three-point shots (a near three-percent improvement — from 37.2 percent last season to 40 percent this season — on the same volume of attempts), an expansion of Podziemski’s scoring profile may just be what the doctor ordered:
In the process, the pressure of being a ball-handling guard is lessened by mixing in possessions in which he operates off the ball, not unlike his scoring possession above that was sparked by his “stampede” cut — an example being the curling cutter in the Warriors’ “5 Out” play, better known as the split action:
The Warriors outscored the Magic by 36 points in Podziemski’s 27 minutes and 30 seconds of time on the floor. It was one of the third-year guard’s better games this season, one where his impact was fully felt and where he seemed to be fully comfortable in the role that was given him. Whether that translates into a promotion back into the featured role he was given (and is still seeking) remains to be seen. Yet, in this current role, Podziemski has been painting the prettiest picture he has produced all season long.
