Andrew Wiggins And Brandin Podziemski Have A Heated Exchange During Warriors Win Over Spurs

Rookies calling out veterans on the roster often doesn't end well, and it seems to have also had an effect here. Even if Podz has earned massive praise and a rotational spot on the Warriors while Wiggins has seemingly taken a step back, that doesn't give Podz the right to criticize the decision-making of someone like Wiggins openly. 

In terms of basketball, Podz was well within his right to bring the lack of an extra pass up. Instead of Wiggins getting fouled and going to the line for two shots, Podz could have gotten a layup or even an and-one. The pass was the right move, but Wiggins is confident enough to attack the rim on that play so he probably didn't like the reaction.

It didn't affect the win, as Podziemski put up 14 points and eight rebounds off the bench, while Wiggins put up 16 points and four rebounds as a starter.

Brandin Podziemski Doesn't Shy Away From Calling Out Veterans

Podziemski is an incredibly confident rookie who is focused on winning. The Warriors selected him with the 19th overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft and he's been a useful win-now piece for the franchise. Even if he is a rookie who was drafted in the middle of the first round, Podz doesn't let his teammates off the hook for bad decisions, no matter how experienced.

Podz openly called out Draymond Green during a scrimmage earlier this season. Knowing Green's tendency to be acerbic, especially to cocky young players, Podz's focus on winning impressed the veteran.

Brandin Podziemski: “We can’t have a turnover for game! You cannot turn the ball over for game.”

Draymond Green: “I was like, ‘OK, cool, you got it. No problem.' Here we are playing a pick-up game, a game to get me ready and he’s yelling at me. That to me said a whole lot. I was like, ‘You know what? No problem. But make sure you speak up like that all the time.'”

Podz has impressed more people in the locker room over the season, earning a defined rotational role a few months in. He's averaging 9.7 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.9 assists this season, playing more minutes than Wiggins.

Players like Wiggins are seeing their role reduce because of the emergence of youngsters. In a disappointing season, he's averaging 12.5 points and 4.2 rebounds as Steve Kerr increasingly relies more on players like Podz and Jonathan Kuminga.