SAN FRANCISCO — Brandin Podziemski remains sidelined by a minor low back strain, but there’s a light at the end of a short tunnel.
The Warriors are hoping for Podziemski to return next Tuesday against the Milwaukee Bucks, Steve Kerr said before Golden State’s game against the Knicks on Saturday. The Knicks game was Podziemski’s fourth straight night in street clothes and Monday’s Nuggets game will be the fifth.
Podziemski suffered the back injury in the first minute of the Warriors-Nets in the Barclays Center on March 6. He’s averaging 10.1 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.4 assists while ranking third on the team in plus-minus. In his rehab process, he has advanced to on-court work and conditioning recently.
When Podziemski returns, the Warriors will have a bloated rotation. Jonathan Kuminga is back from his severe ankle sprain and playing in short bursts. The team has been committed to keeping Gui Santos in the mix as a glue guy and Gary Payton II is playing the best ball of his season. Golden State played 10 guys in their win over the Kings, and Podziemski rejoining the mix makes it 11.
“It’s just really hard to play more than 10,” Kerr said. “I also know that often times these things work themselves out. You know, not everybody’s available. I would hate to take anybody out of the rotation now the way everybody’s playing. But I’m probably going to have to.”
Kerr on precipice of history
The next win the Warriors secure, Kerr will hold the franchise record for victories as a head coach. He’s currently tied with the late Al Attles with 557 .
“More than anything, it’s just a sign of organizational stability and success,” Kerr said. “My general managers, both Bob (Myers) and Mike (Dunleavy) having great faith in me, and Joe (Lacob) as well when things haven’t gone well. I think in a lot of other franchises, I could’ve been fired maybe after we had the worst record in the league or didn’t make the playoffs the next year. That’s how a lot of franchises operate. To me, the record is really an organizational one.”