What we learned as Plowden leads Suns’ Summer League defeat of Warriors originally appeared in NBC Sports Bay Area
The Warriors opened 2024 NBA Summer League with a brilliant performance in a 90-73 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Saturday at The Thomas & Mack Center.
Golden State took control from the start, jumping out to a dominant first-half lead that set the tone for the Warriors’ emphatic victory in Las Vegas.
Daeqwon Plowden, Brandin Podziemski and Jackson Rowe all finished in double figures, with the trio sparking an impressive 21-4 first quarter run that offered Golden State a comfortable cushion to cruise to victory.
Plowden led all Warriors players with 19 points, showing remarkable efficiency with an 8-of-12 shooting performance, including 3-of-4 from beyond the arc.
Here are three takeaways from the Summer League opener that Golden State handled from start to finish.
Plow Lead the way
The star of the California Classic, Plowden picked up right where he left off in his Warriors Vegas debut, posting a game-high 19 points while looking like the best player on the court against the Suns.
The 25-year-old winger put on a show with general manager Mike Dunleavy in attendance, further strengthening his case for being included in the team’s plans beyond the summer slate.
Dunleavy has a considerable decision to make regarding Golden State’s only remaining two-way contract, with Plowden potentially forcing his hand if he continues to dominate as he did Saturday night against Phoenix.
After scoring an average of 17 points per game in three California Classic games, Plowden showed no signs of slowing down in Saturday’s victory, getting to the basket at will with a remarkably efficient display from the floor.
With the amount of aging veterans on the Warriors’ roster, Plowden’s positive athleticism would be a welcome addition to round out the team that Dunleavy and Golden State plan to field for the 2024-25 NBA season.
Podziemski finds his rhythm
After a tough series of games during the California Classic, Podziemski looked much more like the player who earned 2023-24 NBA All-Rookie First Team honors last season.
Podziemski did a little bit of everything as a scorer, getting to the bucket to finish off a tough 1-1 before draining a few baskets from beyond the arc to increase the Warriors’ lead.
Podziemski finished with 16 points, seven rebounds and six assists, displaying the versatile game that led to him being recognized as one of the NBA’s best rookies last season.
Given the confidence Golden State will have in Podziemski following Klay Thompson’s departure, Saturday’s performance offered an encouraging reminder that the young combo guard still remains capable of being the impact rotation player he was during his rookie campaign.
TJD dominates the paint
One of the most exciting second-round NBA draft picks in franchise history, Trayce Jackson-Davis gives the Warriors an athletic, running threat that Golden State has lacked in recent seasons at their center position.
The 24-year-old appears to have not missed a beat since his strong rookie campaign, flying up and down the court at the Thomas & Mack Center while displaying the vertical spacing that made him a key contributor in his rookie season.
Jackson-Davis finished with 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting in Saturday’s win, grabbing seven rebounds and finishing with 12 more in 22 minutes.
Jackson-Davis entered the NBA as a high-IQ big man who can impact games in multiple ways, perfectly summed up in this first quarter sequence that saw him knock down an offensive board while sandwiched between two opponents before finding Rowe with a crafty pass . this led to an open dunk.
With the expected workload Jackson-Davis will have in Year 2, his summer showing indicates the arrow continues to be in the right direction for the young bigs.
