Podziemski’s coming out party got more airtime against the Spurs

Young Podz is playing is bringing electricity to Dub Nation’s playoff hopes.

Well, well, well. Just when you thought the Warriors’ dynasty might be gasping for its final breath after Klay Thompson packed his bags and sailed off to Dallas, here comes Brandin Podziemski setting the record books ablaze and making the Spurs question their life choices.

Sunday night in Texas just a game; it was Podz’s official coming-out party as he joined the rarified air of Warriors sharpshooters. The 22-year-old Wisconsin native channeled his inner Steph Curry so convincingly that he etched his name right under the GOAT’s in franchise history, becoming the second-youngest Warrior ever to drain seven threes in a game. Only Curry did it younger back in 2010, which is basically biblical times in NBA years.

Let’s be honest – this wasn’t just a win; it was a 148-106 ritual sacrifice that had Spurs fans checking StubHub for Orlando Magic tickets by halftime. Podziemski dropped 27 points with the casual confidence of a guy who’s been doing this for a decade, not someone barely old enough to rent a car without paying extra fees.

What’s downright terrifying for the rest of the league is that this isn’t just some random outlier game. Podz has been steadily morphing into exactly what the Warriors needed after their roster exodus: a legitimate third scoring option who plays with both youthful fearlessness and veteran savvy. His sophomore leap makes the departures of Thompson, Poole, and Paul feel less like amputations and more like shedding skin for something newer and more dynamic.

The Warriors now hold a one-game lead over the Clippers for the 6-seed with just eight regular season games remaining. While doomsayers were writing Golden State’s obituary after Klay’s departure, Podziemski has been quietly helping transform this team into a dangerous playoff wildcard that nobody wants to face.

Remember when Poole used to pull off these kinds of performances before he got shipped to basketball purgatory in Washington? Podz is graudlaly giving the impact. With Curry still doing Curry things, Draymond being Draymond, and now Podziemski emerging as a certified bucket-getter, these Warriors might just have enough firepower to remind the Western Conference that rumors of their demise were greatly exaggerated. Oh yeah, we haven’t even seen playoff JImmy Butler.

Just ask the Spurs, who are still trying to figure out what hit them. The answer? A 22-year-old sophomore who plays like he invented fire.