Lendeborg, Podziemski Set To Give Warriors A Glimpse At Post-steph Curry Era

Lendeborg, Podziemski set to give Warriors a glimpse at post-Steph Curry era originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

For those curious about where the Warriors will stand once Stephen Curry hangs up his sneakers, the preview has arrived.

With Curry out for several weeks, the only two players already identified as members of the post-Steph era will be front and center. The extended auditions of Yaxel Lendeborg and Brandin Podziemski begin Friday night in San Antonio against the imposing Spurs.

Lendeborg, 24, and Podziemski, 23, have done well with Curry looking over their respective shoulders, but they’re now on their own. If the Warriors are to avoid a disastrous slide, they will need sufficient contributions across the roster, beginning with veterans Draymond Green and De’Anthony Melton, assuming he replaces Curry in the starting lineup.

But the main characters are Lendeborg and Podziemski. They will have the ball in their hands as much or more than Green, but they produce much more scoring. Lendeborg is second on the team in scoring behind Curry, and Podziemski is third. Podziemski is second in assists behind Green, and Lendeborg is fourth. Lendeborg is first in rebounding, and Podziemski is third.

The most telling statistical category is minutes per game, because it implies an inherent trust from the coaching staff and value within the franchise. Podziemski leads all Warriors, averaging 33.4 per game, and Lendeborg is second at 32.3.

Podziemski’s $110 million contract extension suggests the franchise considers him a keeper. This lavish commitment is no guarantee – see Poole, Jordan – that Podziemski will be a Warrior in 2028, much less 2031. Yet his is only the second large long-term rookie extension from Golden State since Klay Thompson received a four-year commitment in 2014.

So, yes, the Warriors believe Podziemski is as a keeper. At least for now.

“We think Brandin is a hell of a young player, a big part of our future, and he secures his future financially,” coach Steve Kerr said last month after the extension was official. “And it’s a deal that makes a lot of sense based on our numbers.”

Those numbers relate mostly to Podziemski’s positive impact on the court. He led the team with a plus-264 plus/minus as a rookie in 2023-24, ranked third on the team in his second season, dipped to eighth last season but this season ranks behind only Curry.

When Curry was sidelined for two months last season, Podziemski’s scoring ticked up 2.2 points per game, but his efficiency tumbled, as he posted splits of 44.8/34.8 percent. He’s at 48.1/39.7 percent this season.

The question before Podziemski now is whether he is better equipped to maintain similar scoring efficiency without the space afforded by Curry’s famous gravity. And can the fourth-year guard improve his 69-percent free-throw shooting?

The question before Lendeborg is whether he can handle the burden that comes with rising from No. 2 on the scouting report to No. 1. It’s a lot for anyone unaccustomed to it, perhaps even more for a rookie. The spotlight now is much brighter than any he has seen. He felt it after Curry left the game Wednesday night in Houston and responded with a game-high 25 points and team-high 10 rebounds.

“He really took a lot of the offense on his shoulders, and he’s obviously very capable,” Kerr told reporters at Toyota Center.

Lendeborg in his first 12 NBA games has passed, if not aced, every offensive test thrown his way so far. It’s a thin resumé, but it already is delighting the Warriors and their fans, who are falling in love with his potential.

Kerr was quick to place the ultimate faith in Lendeborg’s ability, elevating him to primary offensive engine when Curry is off the floor. Lendeborg’s response has been 21.7 points per game on 51.8/42.6 shooting splits, while adding 7.4 rebounds and 3.7 assists. His Rookie of the Year candidacy is strong.

A lot must happen for the Warriors to win at least half their games without Curry. Green must take and make more shots. Melton, shooting 42.9 percent from deep, must stay close to that level. Georges Niang and Al Horford must produce off the bench. Charles Bassey must remain a force in the paint. Brandon Williams must return soon.

“We have to keep working on our offensive execution,” Kerr said in Houston. “… Without Steph, we have to be organized in our concepts and with our spacing so that we can attack and create shots for each other.”

Much of that task will fall on Lendeborg and Podziemski. If they handle it well, the Warriors can be respectable without their superstar.

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