Victor Wembanyama got 99 out of 99 first-place votes for Rookie of the Year. Chet Holmgren got 98 of 99 second-place votes. But who cares about those guys? Brandin Podziemski got four of a possible 99 third-place votes, and that’s enough to finish 5th in the ROY vote.
The Golden State Warriors’ rookie had a stellar 2023-24 season, especially for a player who went 19th in the draft last summer. Podziemski led the league by drawing 38 charges. He averaged 9.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 3.7 assists, made 38.5% of his three-pointers, and led the Warriors in plus-minus, even ahead of Draymond Green and Steph Curry. One of his charges won a game against the Portland Trail Blazers.
Podziemski finished with four points, enough for fifth place, just behind Jaime Jaquez Jr., who went to the Miami Heat one pick ahead of Podziemski at No. 18. The Los Angeles Lakers had the pick just before the two likely All-Rookie first team members, but they opted for Jalen Hood-Schifino, who averaged 1.6 points in 21 games.
Podz got the most awards points since Harrison Barnes picked up eight third-place votes in 2013, though that left Barnes tied for sixth, even with 28-year-old rookie Chris Copeland. Klay Thompson also finished sixth, with 30 points, in 2012, the same spot Eric Paschall finished with his two third-place votes in 2020.
Steph Curry finished second after his rookie year, behind Tyreke Evans, which was the Sacramento Kings’ biggest victory over the Warriors until this year’s 9-10 play-in game. So this is the Warriors’ highest finish in the voting, if not the most points, since Curry. Podziemski looks likely to be the Warriors’ first All-Rookie first teamer since Paschall.
Perhaps an even more impressive accomplishment is that Podziemski continued the rehabilitation of red-haired Warriors guards, which began last season by Donte DiVincenzo, making up for the ill-fated Nico Mannion Era. Podz did a lot for the Warriors last year, but he may have done even more for the ginger community.
With Blake Griffin retiring, this rookie season meant more than ever. Congratulations, Brandin! Make sure to wear lots of sunscreen this summer.