“The Warriors have announced that Brandin Podziemski will not return to the team until he gets better at basketball.” This recent tweet from NBACentel instantly went viral with over two million views within hours. Of course, it was not a true report, coming from a parody page that is notoriously popular for such tweets. However, it resonated with a lot of fans considering Podziemski’s significant decline in performance. Moreover, NBACentel added salt to the sophomore’s wounds by posting that his teammate Draymond Green liked the tweet about the alleged ban. But did Draymond really hit that like button?

Well, the answer is NO. Just like his original tweet, NBACentel’s post showing Draymond’s like is most probably a photoshopped image, maybe from a like he left on one of his posts sometime in the past. Moreover, there is no reasonable explanation for the former DPOY to like a false report about his teammate. Especially when he has been the one defending Podziemski amid his recent struggles.

Amid Brandin’s sophomore slump, Draymond has tried his best to motivate him and even said in an interview last month, “It’s hard having a great rookie season and then coming back and having a second year as good or better. It’s tough.” Yes, Podz made the All-Rookie team last year by averaging 9.2 points and nearly six rebounds. While fans expected him to take an even bigger leap this year, his numbers have dropped to 7.7 points on terrible efficiency. And Draymond had an advice for him to overcome his struggles, “I think for him, he’s just put so much pressure on himself for the player that he wants to be and that he thinks he should be… If you don’t have to have that pressure. Don’t put that pressure on yourself.”

Although NBACentel’s tweets about the alleged ban and Draymond’s like might be fake, it cannot be denied that Dub Nation is not pleased with Podziemski. Maybe, the Warriors’ latest move will help solve that issue.

Mike Dunleavy hopeful about Dennis Schroder move sparking Brandin Podziemski’s comeback

With Podz struggling, many fans are demanding the front office to trade him. But Mike Dunleavy is adamant about keeping the team’s young core intact. However, he has made a blockbuster move by adding star guard Dennis Schroder via a trade, which he believes could help Brandin find his groove, “I think this move, for both him and Steph [Curry], is something we view as additive and helps them.”

He continued, “Brandin was really, really good last year, and I think part of it was having Steph and CP [Chris Paul], two other handlers, alongside him. And so, I think this move enables Brandin and Steph to always be on the court with another handler. Whether it’s the two of them or Dennis and Brandin or Dennis and Steph. So, I think it makes a lot of sense. Again, I think this is something that helps and boosts Brandin.” Well, the availability of another ball handler would certainly take some pressure off Podz and allow him to operate more freely. Hopefully, it will help him turn into the star that fans expected him to be after his rookie season.