Brandin Podziemski has become incredibly important to the Golden State Warriors since being drafted. But his 3-point percentage of 19.1 so far this season is one of the glaring issues with the Warriors’ shooting. The team ruled out Podziemski ahead of Golden State’s highly anticipated game against Boston due to a mysterious illness.

Podziemski told reporters on Monday, including The Athletic’s Anthony Slater, that the team does not yet know what exactly he experienced or what caused it.

“We haven’t figured out what it is,” Podziemski said. “We’re still trying to figure it out.”

Podziemski also revealed that he met with both head coach Steve Kerr and general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr., during which the three discussed his early-season struggles. He also shared the message he received from the two members of the Warriors’ strategic brain trust with the media.

“Come out and be myself and the best version of me,” Podziemski said. “Don’t try to play for everyone. Understand what I bring to the table.”

The Warriors just want Brandin Podziemski to be himself

Podziemski made the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 2023-24 after an impressive debut season. With an average of 9.2 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game, he placed fifth in the Rookie of the Year race. But this season, Podziemski has struggled to shoot at the pace his team knows he can. He made nine of his 47 on his three-point attempts. As a rookie, he made 10 times as many three-pointers on just five attempts. Or to put it more simply: he shot twice as well.

He had an unfortunate start to the 2024/25 season, breaking his nose late in pre-season. And regardless of whatever the aforementioned mystery illness was, it doesn’t appear to be something that has helped the second-year guard settle down. Sophomore slumps occur in all sports, but typically do not involve medical discomfort.

Regardless of the causes, the Warriors understand the situation. Kerr told reporters after the Warriors’ loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday night that it’s clear Podziemski is in a slump.

“He’s not shooting the ball with a lot of confidence right now,” the coach said. “That’s clear. It’s part of being in the NBA. Everyone goes through periods where you don’t quite feel it. As he filmed at the end of last year, all summer, and saw him in camp, he’s a very good shooter. He will find it.”

When Klay Thompson put pen to paper last offseason, the Warriors knew their shooting would have to improve elsewhere. Podziemski is taking about 22% more shots per game from behind the three-point arc than he did in his rookie year. But the rate at which he’s legitimately making his three-pointers at half of what it was last year isn’t just growing pains.

Podziemski was taken 19th overall in the 2023 NBA Draft and burst onto the scene with his polished, decisive play and ability to shoot the ball off the bench for the Warriors. And Kerr and Dunleavy Jr. apparently made it clear during their meeting with the young guard that his best path is to play as Brandin Podziemski.