Podz details connection with Draymond during Warriors veteran suspensions originally appeared in NBC Sports Bay Area
Brandin Podziemski approached Draymond Green when the fiery Warriors forward suspended during the 2023-24 NBA season.
Green, of course, was sidelined for more than a dozen games due to altercations with Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert and Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkić.
Podziemski, a rookie when his teammate was suspended indefinitely, discussed the call with Green while appearing on the ““The Dinner Table” Podcast.
“At first he just apologized to us as a group,” Podziemski said. “During the suspension, we just talked about what he has to do going forward, what I could do to elevate myself and my role because he was going to be gone, all those little things. What he sees from a fan’s point of view, because he’s not on the court from a coach’s point of view.
“I tried to ask him everything I could during the time he was away and tried to be there for him, in terms of moral support. It can be lonely being alone and not traveling with the team, having to stay at home and watch.”
Most know Green for what he sees on the court: a passionate, often overzealous competitor.
But Podziemski sees the 34-year-old veteran behind closed doors. And when no one is looking, Green is as good a person as anyone.
Podziemski got to know Green on a deeper level during their suspensions. The 21-year-old couldn’t admire the future Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame inductee’s personality more.
“I think he’s the complete opposite of what he is on the court,” Podziemski added of Green. “Obviously everything he does is super competitive and he wants to win, [but] he is a super kind person. My family likes him a lot. He takes time out of the day to talk to everyone and everyone’s family – things like that.
“You see things on the court, the antics and stuff like this. Off the court, he is a very good human [who] always looks out for his guys and just tries to put us in the best situation we can.”
