“Jeez!”: Klay Thompson on “Dramatic Rookie” Brandin Podziemski Biting the Bullet for Warriors Loss

The Golden State Warriors‘ loss to the under-manned Miami Heat was as disappointing as they came. Though the Warriors’ star guards, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, tried their best to pull the team out of the ditch, the Heat outplayed them. Coach Kerr was also of the same opinion.

While it’s a common sight to see veteran players and coaches take blame for the dismal performances, the Warriors presser saw a different incident. Their 20-year-old star rookie, Brandin Podziemski, held himself accountable for the defeat.

Klay Thompson and his comical response to Podz

When this was relayed to Thompson, he had quite a hilarious reaction. “Jeez. Dramatic rookie.”

While this is a standard Klay response, Podziemski taking accountability is not new. The roots of this can be credited to his time in military school. St. John’s North Western Military Academy set the stage for his independence. Having spent a major part of his childhood in Wisconsin, the 45-minute location from home proved to be a crucial stage of his life.

Not making the cut for his high school varsity team only served to amplify his drive. As reported by the San Francisco Chronicle, his father John Podziemski said, “His school credo was, ‘You’re only strong as your weakest link.'” The first step to becoming efficient was knowing his limits. Seeing that athleticism wasn’t his forte, the young guard ensured he took charge down the stretch.

Coupled with his high basketball IQ, Podziemski anticipates where his opponent is headed. He rushes there and takes his position, hands raised and braced for impact. That’s how dedicated he is to the sport. And the biggest reason why he has already made an impact.

Read More: “Stick It”: Klay Thompson Urged to Abandon Warriors and Seek ‘Respect’ With California Rivals

As for the second Splash Brother, his antics have no limit.

Thompson’s Christmas shenanigans

The most recent in Klay‘s typical behavior happened on Saturday against the Portland Trail Blazers. After the game, he was live for some questions. And of course, there have to be some talks regarding Christmas plans and, more importantly, gifts.

When asked what he had planned for his teammates, Thompson, hands down, just said that there would be a lot of people who were not going to receive any gifts. But the rookies were special. And his gift for them was himself.

“The rookies just get to be benefitted with my presence,” he had hilariously added. By now, everyone has come to accept him with all his quirks. We should be worried if there weren’t any such incidents at regular intervals!

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