With the NBA Draft happening, teams should be excited about Brandin Podziemski and the potential he brings to aid in winning games.
Brandin Podziemski 2023 NBA Draft Profile
College Career
Brandin only played 4.1 minutes at Illinois as a Freshman, but he changed his game once he transferred to Santa Clara. Awarded Co-WCC Player of the Year this past season, Brandin had a terrific Sophomore season. Averaging 19.9 points a game, the shooting guard can score and shoot the ball at a high level. He led the Broncos to a third-place regular season finish in the WCC. Teams are excited about the skills this guard brings to the table.
Brandin was also WCC Newcomer of the Year and First Team All-WCC
Strengths
Brandin’s Shooting
Brandin Podziemski is a terrific three-point shooter. Arguably one of the best shooters in this draft, Brandin shot 43.8% from three this season on 5.8 attempts. He is terrific off the catch, so he can fit into the offense and be effective. Additionally, he shot a bunch of threes off the dribble as well.
Brandin has a quick trigger and creates good space through jab steps and cutting actions to effectively shoot the three well. His shooting is an asset in a league that loves to shoot the three. He is more effective off the catch, but there are plenty of players who are effective as catch-and-shoot shooters.
His Size
Brandin has good size for a shooting guard. He is 6’6” and has good length, which allows him to get his shot off easily. Podziemski’s size allows him to guard well in help situations. Having size, and being productive, is essential for guards or wings in today’s NBA. Luckily, Brandin has great size, which allows him to have an effect on both ends of the court.
Versatility
Brandin is not just a shooter but can play both guard positions. He is excellent in the pick-and-roll at passing with both hands. He makes good decisions that give teams confidence he can run pick-and-roll offense in the NBA. Additionally, Podzieminski has a good handle which allows him to break players off the dribble if they take away his shot.
Defensively, he shows some promise in being a versatile defender. He is a cerebral player, which allows him to generate 2.5 stocks (blocks and steals) which are excellent for a guard. He guarded multiple positions in college, a skill that can translate to the pros. While being more successful as a help defender, he showed versatility on defense.
Weaknesses
Inconsistent On-Ball Defense
While Brandin shows promise as a defender and generated lots of steals, he does get beat in one-on-one situations, which alarms scouts. Guards in the NBA are dynamic in one-on-one situations, and he struggles. He gets “called in switches,” according to scouts. Teams feel he is not quick enough to stop quickly or downhill guards.
He also struggles to get through ball screens because of his lack of explosive speed and physicality, making it concerning for the next level. The guard needs to improve this aspect of his game to make a difference at the next level, but he is a young player and can develop this.
Explosiveness
While possessing great size and length, Brandin is not an explosive driver. His lack of speed causes him to get stonewalled by opposing defenders. More importantly, he is not speedy enough to go to his right hand and finish. Being an elite shooter, Brandin needs to use more of his handle to generate looks at the basket. However, teams will have some success because he is not explosive driving to the rim like other guards in this draft class.
Moreover, his lack of explosiveness translates poorly to his on-ball and ball-screen defense. He gets beat on screens and in isolation due to his lack of a burst. He needs to find ways to use his high intelligence to make up more gaps in his lack of explosion on defense.
Last Word on Brandin Podziemski
Brandin Podziemski is a good prospect. His ability to create offense, shoot, and potential as a defender gives him a chance to make an impact to win at the next level. While his on-ball defensive issues are concerning, Brandin made a massive improvement from his Freshman to Sophomore year, so that gives confidence he can do that in the pros. Teams should be excited about the sharpshooting guard.
