Dub Hub: Steve Kerr praises Brandin Podziemski’s ‘fantastic’ performance vs. Jazz

Rounding up all Warriors and NBA related news for Wednesday, January 29th.

In today’s Dub Hub:

• Steve Kerr says Brandin Podziemski was “fantastic” during the Warriors’ 114-103 victory over the Jazz.
• Warriors among teams in ‘active’ trade conversations for Heat’s Jimmy Butler, per ESPN’s Shams Charania.
• The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie outlines potential trade scenarios for De’Aaron Fox as the Kings open talks to deal the star point guard.

The Golden State Warriors enjoyed a nice bounce back win on Tuesday night, beating the Utah Jazz, 114-103. With the team’s leading scorer Stephen Curry sitting out the front end of a back-to-back, they desperately needed players to step up for them offensively. Second-year guard Brandin Podziemski was one of those player to answer the call, finishing the night with 20 points, seven rebounds, and six assists in what head coach Steve Kerr called a “fantastic” performance.

Podziemski has come on strong since returning from an abdominal strain that forced him to miss 12 games for the Warriors. Over his last three games, he’s averaging 15.6 points per game while shooting an efficient 53% from the field and 43% from beyond the arc.

While Podziemski’s offensive production has been key, it’s his signature hustle and energy that have stood out the most. He’s beginning to regain his confidence in a crucial stretch of the season, shaking off the sophomore slump that plagued him in the beginning of the year.

For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Wednesday, January 28th:

Warriors News:

Podziemski giving Warriors needed intensity bump since return | NBC Sports Bay Area

“It’s just his personality,” Looney said of Podziemski. “He’s a talkative guy. I don’t know what word I would use ... but he could be an a-hole sometimes. But as a point guard, you want that in your point guard. Dennis is like that. They’re going to push guys’ buttons and get under guys’ skin. But you need that toughness out there.”

Why Draymond believes Butler trade would be difficult for Warriors | NBC Sports Bay Area

Warriors forward Draymond Green broke down on the latest episode of his podcast, “The Draymond Green Show with Baron Davis,” why Golden State trading for Butler would be challenging to pull off.

“It’s hard to trade a guy that makes $52 million a year,” Green told Davis and guest Tim Hardaway Sr. “For instance, if you look at our roster, say you want to trade for Jimmy with the least amount of players that you could on our roster. That means you’ve got to trade Jimmy straight up for Steph [Curry] or you have to trade Jimmy for me and [Andrew Wiggins]. I don’t think you’re going to do that, so now you start looking at you’ve got to trade like five guys for one guy. Then you start getting into needing a third team because now you’ve got to clear roster spots.

“It’s hard to trade, and another thing is, people don’t understand in this league when you start talking trades, great players don’t get traded. That just don’t happen. Like great players in their prime, you don’t get traded.”

ESPN’s Shams Charania names the Warriors as a team in ‘active’ trade conversations for Heat forward Jimmy Butler

Andre Iguodala will get first jersey retirement from Warriors dynasty: ‘I’m just the oldest’ | The Athletic

Iguodala will be the seventh jersey number retired by the Warriors, joining Alvin Attles (No. 16), Rick Barry (No. 24), Wilt Chamberlain (No. 16), Tom Meschery (No. 14), Chris Mullin (No. 17) and Nate Thurmond (No. 42). Four more will surely follow over the next decade: Thompson (No. 11), Kevin Durant (No. 35), Draymond Green (No. 23) and Stephen Curry (No. 30).

“I’m just the oldest,” Iguodala said. “Mark Jackson’s favorite line was: ‘Father Time is undefeated.’ It worked to my benefit this time in terms of being the first one.”

Steve Kerr named USA Basketball’s 5-on-5 Coach of the Year

NBA News:

De’Aaron Fox trade scenarios: Could Kings star team up with Victor Wembanyama? | The Athletic

The Kings are opening up trade talks on Fox, and The Athletic’s Sam Amick reported that Fox’s agent, Rich Paul, told the Kings that it would be wise for the team to move him now because Fox’s current contract is slated to run out in the summer of 2026. If the Kings want to maximize value on Fox, trading him one and a half years out from his free agency is the best time for the team to get what it needs in a deal. As previously reported, Fox has declined an extension offer from the Kings that would make him among the highest-paid point guards in the league. If Fox can make All-NBA this season, he could qualify for a five-year supermax extension worth a projected $345 million. That is certainly a big part of the reason why he has yet to agree to an extension. However, with that looking more unlikely as the season goes on, the clock continues to run on the Kings’ decision.

Lakers’ Anthony Davis to miss one week after suffering abdominal muscle strain

NBA reveals Rising Stars roster for 2025 All-Star Weekend

In case you missed it at Golden State of Mind:

Player grades: Warriors vs. Jazz

Gui Santos

23 minutes, 7 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 turnover, 2 fouls, 2-for-3 shooting, 0-for-1 threes, 3-for-4 free throws, 73.5% TS, +25

Even in the games where his stat line isn’t gaudy, it’s clear that Santos isn’t just a flash in the pan. The dude simply knows how to play basketball, and hustles like he’s still trying to make the team.

I’m so impressed by the way he reads defenses and makes the right pass, by the way he reacts and rotates on defense, and by the way he’s constantly in motion in every phase of the game.

The Warriors outscored the Jazz by 25 points in his 23 minutes, and were outscored by 14 points in the 25 minutes he sat. Plus/minus doesn’t always tell the story, but it does here.

Grade: A

Post-game bonus: Best plus/minus on the team.

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