Trayce Jackson-Davis is convinced Brandin Podziemski can fill Chris Paul’s void – NBC Sports Bay Area & California

The Warriors decided to part ways with Chris Paul in the offseason, leaving a gap on the roster behind star point guard Steph Curry.

That’s where second-year pro Brandin Podziemski comes in. His teammate Trayce Jackson-Davis expects him to step in admirably in Paul’s absence during the 2024-25 NBA season.

“Absolutely,” Jackson-Davis told reporters Saturday when asked if Podziemski could fill the void left by Paul. “(Podziemski) is a competitor and very confident. Whatever coach (Steve) Kerr asks him to do, he’s going to do it to the best of his ability and 95 percent of the time he’s going to do a great job.”

Last season, Podziemski earned his keep as a Warriors rookie, eventually replacing franchise icon Klay Thompson in Golden State’s starting lineup just 10 days before his 21st birthday. Podziemski started 15 of the Warriors’ final 28 regular season games in which he appeared, capping his first NBA season in which he averaged 9.2 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists.

Podziemski’s efforts earned the young guard All-Rookie First Team honors, and he can expect to have a heavier workload alongside Curry in the future. But regardless of whether he comes off the bench or is a starter in 2024-25, Podziemski is ready for whatever comes his way.

“It doesn’t matter if I start or come off the bench, I just want to be there when it counts,” Podziemski told NBC Sports Bay Area’s Dalton Johnson last week while playing for the USA Select Team in Las Vegas. “(Starting) is definitely a possibility, but I definitely have to earn it. It’s not easy.”

Paul, a proven veteran and playmaker, joined the Warriors last summer as part of a trade that sent Jordan Poole to the Washington Wizards. The Point God became a key backup for the first time in his career with the Warriors, averaging 9.2 points and 6.8 assists per game in 58 appearances during the 2023-24 season.

But Golden State released Paul in the offseason rather than pay him the $30 million he would be due for next season, and the 39-year-old has since joined the San Antonio Spurs on a one-year deal. While Paul’s shoes are certainly big, it’s clear Jackson-Davis believes Podziemski has the right fit in the Bay.

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