DENVER — At the start of this now-completed four-game road trip, neither Tracey Jackson-Davis neither Brandin Podziemski boarded the team plane. It was planned in advance. Golden State Warriors rookies have calendars that map out their month. The franchise retained them to attend training camp in Santa Cruz, allowing them to participate in high-intensity workouts with the G Leaguers with whom they will share the field several times this season.
But it was new to the veterans. Green Draymond publicly bragged about his dissatisfaction, stating afterwards Oklahoma City game that the team’s drop in energy was due to the absence of the youngest layer of its squad. But it was actually Chris Paul – whose forthright opinions and fingerprints are all over many levels of his new organization – raising the issue first.
Where are the recruits? Why weren’t we alerted?
This had been a real topic internally for a few days, which prompted the Warriors to cut the G League mission short by one day, bringing Jackson-Davis and Podziemski to Cleveland. They both contributed positive turnover minutes against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The players’ reaction was seen as an encouraging signal to those who help lead and coach the Warriors. These are veterans who express their approval and confidence in the rookies. This type of noise hasn’t necessarily emanated during G League missions in recent years.
Steve Kerr joked that vets love newbies on road trips because they can force them to do things, which has some truth in it. Few people have ever raced or grabbed Stephen Curry popcorn with as much enthusiasm as the enthusiastic Podziemski, who sparks conversation with everyone nearby. Jackson-Davis is a little more reserved but mature and lively. He is already 23 years old. The personalities got mixed up.
But all this means little if neither can produce useful results. NBA minutes of rotation in a pinch. That This is when vets start to worry more when you are not around. It’s what Ryan Rollins, Patrick Baldwin Jr. And James Wiseman weren’t ready to do it a season ago, but Jackson-Davis and Podziemski were.
“They’re ready,” Kerr said. “We’ll throw them out there in any situation.”
The latest situation occurred Wednesday night in Denver against the defending champions. Green missed the game for a personal reason. Gary Payton II was out with an illness. That left two rotation spots that Kerr had announced before the game for rookies.
Both were again part of a second unit that stabilized the Warriors in a time of danger and need, outplaying the Nuggets when Curry was off the court, working alongside Paul to make the game better for the wave of starters than they found it. Podziemski had a differential of +8 in 11 minutes. Jackson-Davis was +4 in 18 minutes.
“I love Trayce’s game.” Klay Thompson said. “He’s going to stay in the NBA for a very, very long time. He is ready. He can do it right now. What a flight we achieved at the end of the second. He’s going to be a big help to us all year long.
Jackson-Davis was especially needed in the game against the Nuggets. Kevin Looney committed five fouls while keeping Nikola Jokic and his usual partner, Green, was not in the building. Jackson-Davis therefore took on part of the mission. He committed a few contact fouls and was flagged several times. But it wasn’t an avalanche and, on the other hand, Jackson-Davis continues to provide an element above the rim that this team needed.
Here’s a game designed out of Kerr’s downtime. This was the first possession after Curry returned to the game in the second quarter. He kept Jackson-Davis in the game to set a high screen for Curry and roll. Denver had attacked Curry, not wanting to leave Jokić on an island. This left the scroll wide open. Curry threw it up and Jackson-Davis guided in the and-1 layup.
After the game in the locker room, the ever-confident Podziemski seemed particularly impressed with one of his passes during his successful 11-minute stint. This happened at a crucial pivotal moment in the match.
The Nuggets battled Jokić for the entire third quarter. Curry rested the final minutes. This left the Warriors vulnerable. With 36 seconds left, Jokić looked for a two-on-one opportunity, stopping for a wing 3 with 18 still on the shot clock, reasoning that such an early shot would only produce one more possession in the quarter for the Warriors.
Jokić’s miss hit the rim with 33 seconds remaining. Podziemski, who has 13 rebounds in 43 minutes this season, grabbed it and, in a quick dribbling and throwing motion, threw an overhand touchdown pass to Jackson-Davis, who beat Jokić to the floor. The pass paid off, leading to Jokić committing a foul.
This gave Jackson-Davis two free throws And served as a double opportunity for the Warriors because of how quickly Podziemski recognized and executed the play. There were still 28 seconds left on the shot clock. The Warriors got it back with 16 seconds left, generating additional value.
There will still be time in the G League. Both are expected to play in Santa Cruz’s home opener Friday night. But expect them to return with the Warriors for the back-to-back weekend. The vets want them around.
“Their energy and ability to move the ball and play hard adds a new dimension to our team,” Thompson said. “It makes us so deep. Ten, 12, 13 deep.
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(Jackson-Davis and Podziemski photo: Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)
