The Golden State Warriors underwent a drastic change this summer, with longtime starting shooting guard Klay Thompson deciding to leave the team that drafted him to sign with the Dallas Mavericks and join forces with fellow stars Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.
With Thompson breaking up the dynamic Warriors trio that included Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, Golden State must move on and figure out how to get back to winning basketball games on a nightly basis.
One player who will likely see a bump in playing time during the upcoming 2024-25 NBA regular season is guard Brandin Podziemski, who the team thinks highly of and could have a bright future in the Bay Area.
Unfortunately for Podziemski, the 21-year-old won’t be heading into the regular season at 100%, as he broke his nose in a collision with Trayce Jackson-Davis during a preseason game against the Detroit Pistons via Warriors on NBCS.
Brandin Podziemski sustained a broken nose last night, per Steve Kerr.
Podz took a Trayce Jackson-Davis elbow to the face in the third quarter and left the game a few moments later. pic.twitter.com/FYDCtXuVpX
— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) October 14, 2024
Suffering a broken nose isn’t as bad as a knee or an ankle injury, which can cost a player weeks to months to recover from, but if Podziemski has issues breathing while on the court, it could cost him some time.
Usually, players wear masks after breaking their nose, which can change their game a bit, especially if they are known for being shooters, as masks are uncomfortable and can induce sweat.
It remains to be seen how severe this broken nose is and whether it will cost Podziemski some time or production on the floor if able to play with a mask.
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