On Monday, Brandin Podzemski became the first Warrior to earn NBA All-Rookie First Team honors since Eric Paschall in 2020. The three rookies who won the award before Paschall were Harrison Barnes in 2013, Klay Thompson in 2012, and Stephen Curry in 2010.
The Warriors also came close to becoming the first player since 1981 to be named All-Rookie twice, but by just one vote.
Trayce Jackson-Davis received 42 points from the voters. All 42 were on the second team, worth one point each. GG Jackson II of the Memphis Grizzlies received 33 votes for the second team, but also received five first-team votes, giving Jackson a total of 43 points as the fifth and final member of the All-Rookie Second Team.
“I get angry for him,” Podziemski told reporters via Zoom at Chase Center on Monday. “We've been through everything together.”
The Warriors acquired the 57th overall pick in the second round of the draft and added Jackson Davis with the penultimate overall pick. The 6-foot-9 center earned numerous accolades during his four-year career at Indiana University, but at 23 years old (Jackson-Davis turned 24 in February), the NBA is focused on potential. In this era, overproduction from prospects that were disadvantageous for draft slots.
Jackson-Davis appeared in 68 games for the Warriors, averaging 7.9 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.1 blocks as a rookie. The Grizzlies also got a gem in the second round with the 45th overall pick in Jackson. Jackson, 19, averaged 14.6 points per game for the Grizzlies, who won 27 games despite being the youngest player in the NBA.
The two were in completely different situations. Jackson-Davis played 20 more games than Jackson, but the Grizzlies forward averaged 9.1 more minutes per game than the Warriors big man, 25.7 minutes compared to 16.6. Jackson led the way with 35 points and 23 rebounds against the Warriors, but he also shot 42.8 percent overall and 35.7 percent from three. Meanwhile, Jackson-Davis shot 70.2 percent from the field and averaged 17.2 points, 10.9 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per 36 minutes.
Golden State finished the regular season with 9 wins and 2 losses with Jackson Davis as the starting center. During that span, the Warriors ranked seventh in offensive rating (116.6), fifth in defensive rating (108.6) and sixth in net rating (7.9).
“When you look at the impact he's had on our game from a guard's perspective and how he's helped us win games this year, I think maybe voters should consider the win more.” I think so,” Podzemskiy said Monday. “It's a shame to see him not succeed. I think he deserved it.”
NBC Sports Bay Area spoke with Poziemski in late April, in which he explained why he thinks he should be on the All-Rookie first team, while Jackson-Davis should at least be on the second team. He also said that.
“Trace's progression from where he came from to where he is now is unbelievable,” Podzemski told NBC Sports Bay Area. “So I think we should both be there.”
Eleven months ago, Jackson-Davis famously tweeted on draft night, “You're all going to regret this…I promise,” as he watched the rest of the NBA pass him.
After his All-Rookie results came out, Poziemski sent out a message of his own on social media that no one needed to decipher.
“I know him and I know he's going to use that as a chip on his shoulder going into next year,” Podzemski said. “And I think that's going to make him even better.”
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