Brandin Podziemski's Back Flares Up After Securing the Bag
Brandin Podziemski (back) listed questionable for Friday. - @UnderdogNBA
Brandin Podziemski is officially questionable for Friday with a back injury, which is exactly the kind of update you want for a 23-year-old who just signed a nine-figure contract.
According to Underdog NBA, the Golden State guard is dealing with lower back soreness. If he is forced to sit, De'Anthony Melton is the most likely candidate to slide into his spot in the rotation.
The timing is brutal when you look at the mileage. Podziemski was the only player on the Golden State roster to play all 82 games last season. He followed up that ironman campaign by signing a massive five-year, $110 million extension.
Playing 82 games in the modern NBA is like surviving a horror movie without tripping over a tree root. But following up that perfect attendance record with offseason wrist and core surgeries, only to immediately develop a bad back, is a tough sequence of events. It makes you wonder if carrying the weight of those new expectations is literally compressing his spine.
Bettors and fantasy managers need to monitor this situation closely. If Podziemski is ruled out, Melton's prop lines for minutes and three-pointers will get a serious bump, especially since Steph Curry is already navigating his own minor ankle tweak.
We will find out Friday if the back holds up enough for Podziemski to suit up. Until then, the Golden State might want to invest in some premium ergonomic chairs for the bench.