Category: Basketball

Report: Kings finalizing deal to hire Doug Christie as full-time head coach originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

It’s official. The “interim” title no longer is attached to Doug Christie’s job description.

The Kings are finalizing a multiyear contract to make Christie their next coach, a source confirmed to NBC Sports California. ESPN’s Shams Charania first reported the news Tuesday morning, citing sources.

Christie took over for Mike Brown, who was fired in late December following a 13-18 start to the 2024-25 NBA season. Under Christie, the Kings went 27-24 and finished as the No. 9 seed in the Western Conference.

After Sacramento’s season-ending NBA play-in loss to the Dallas Mavericks, Sacramento replaced former general manager Monte McNair with longtime executive Scott Perry. While speaking at his introductory press conference last week, Perry didn’t want to disclose too much information on the coaching search but detailed his relationship with Christie over the years.

“What I can tell you is I spent time with Doug Christie already,” Perry said. “I first met Doug Christie when he was a player at Toronto, so I admired him as a player, his career. I’ve watched him this year from afar in terms of his ability to have a presence on the court. I think he’s made a connection with players. We’ve had a few conversations up to this point. He was one of the first people I met with yesterday when I got into town.”

Perry added that his phone had been “incessantly” ringing with other potential coaching candidates interested in the job, and that he wanted to have a few more conversations before making a final decision.

Amongst the fired coaches who potentially were available for a new coaching gig are: Mike Budenholzer (last with Phoenix Suns), Michael Malone (last with Denver Nuggets) and Taylor Jenkins (last with Memphis Grizzlies).

And depending on how the rest of the NBA playoffs shake out, several other possible candidates could have become available, such as Milwaukee Bucks coach Doc Rivers, who currently is trying to dig his team out of a first-round playoff exit.

But Perry seemingly didn’t want to wait any longer. With a busy offseason ahead, he ticked one box off his long list of to-dos.

Christie, who played with the Kings for five seasons from 2000 to 2005, has a personal love and appreciation for the organization and city of Sacramento. You could see it through his emotions and feel it through his words each and every time he spoke at a pre- or postgame podium.

“This is where I want to be,” Christie said after the Kings’ season-ending loss. “I need to finish what I started, and that’s the only reason I ever stepped onto the sideline from where I was at initially. I had to exorcise some demons for myself.”

He also had support from several of his players.

“He did a good job for us when he came in, he tried to keep it real simple for us,” Kings guard Keon Ellis said during end-of-season exit interviews. “We have some really talented players on our team, so just try not to overdo anything, and let us go out there and be pros. He definitely didn’t want to do too much. … As far as his professionalism and his leadership, I think that’s a big thing when you’re talking about Doug. Former player. He has respect from everyone.

“I think he’s telling us the right things game in, game out, practice, whatever. The messages he’s given us are either the ones you don’t want to hear or the tough ones we need to hear. So just keeping it real with us and if you have that, you’re not going into any game with him telling you something that it’s not going to be. I think he did a good job at that. Those are the things that you need.”

Players during their exit interviews also talked about longing for some organizational stability and consistency, something lacking in Sacramento for several years. Perhaps hiring a man who has been tied to the franchise for more than two decades is the first step in bringing just that.

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NBA considers turning All-Star Game into international format originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

More changes are coming to the NBA All-Star Game.

The league has experimented with various iterations over the past several years, including drafting teams, Elam Endings and, most recently, a tournament involving four teams — a format that has already been shelved.

Now, Adam Silver has told The Athletic that the NBA is looking into a potential showdown in 2026 between American players and worldwide stars.

One factor that the league is considering is that NBC will air the game next February for the first time since 2002. The All-Star festivities will take place in the midst of the Milan Cortina Olympics, which NBC will also broadcast.

“Our All-Star Game will return to NBC next season in the middle of their coverage of the Winter Olympics,” Silver told The Athletic. “Given the strong interest we’ve seen in international basketball competitions, most recently in last summer’s Olympics in Paris, we’re discussing concepts with the players association that focus on NBA players representing their countries or regions instead of the more traditional formats that we’ve used in the past.”

Byron Spruell, the NBA’s president of league operations, echoed Silver’s sentiments.

“NBC is very much leaning into it, given their role — we are, as well,” Spruell said. “Looking to do something new and different yet again, but excited about the possibility.”

The newly opened Intuit Dome in Los Angeles will play host to the 2026 All-Star Game on Sunday, Feb. 15, during the afternoon. By moving the game up a few hours, NBC will follow it up with Olympic prime-time coverage from Italy.

Silver added that the arena, which will host basketball games during the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, gives the NBA a unique chance to play on the international theme.

“We’ll be competing in the arena at Intuit, where the basketball competition will take place in the 2028 Olympics,” Silver said. “So, I think all of those factors, when they come together, it presents an enormous opportunity for us to do something with an international competition instead of the traditional All-Star formats that we’ve used.”

At one time, it would’ve been far-fetched to have a competition pitting American players against everyone else. But many of the world’s best players now hail from outside the United States — including every NBA MVP from 2019 through this season (three outsiders are MVP finalists in 2025).

The pool of foreign players includes Nikola Jokić (Serbia), Giannis Antetokounmpo (Greece), Luka Dončić (Slovenia), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Canada), Victor Wembanyama (France), Pascal Siakam (Cameroon) Alperen Şengün (Turkey). Joel Embiid was born in Cameroon, but has competed internationally for Team USA as an American citizen.

The NHL used a similar idea for its 2025 All-Star format, where the 4 National Face-Off was seen as a massive success. While the NBA wouldn’t use a drawn out tournament like the NHL did, it would attempt to build that sense of pride in representing your country.

Will Celtics close out series vs. Magic in Game 5? Here's what history says originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Celtics are a little banged up right now. Jayson Tatum is dealing with a bone bruise in his wrist. Jaylen Brown had a knee injury over the final few weeks of the regular season. Jrue Holiday has missed the last two games of the NBA playoffs with a right hamstring strain.

Therefore, it would greatly benefit the C’s to end their first-round series against the Orlando Magic with a Game 5 win Tuesday night at TD Garden. The Celtics took a 3-1 series lead with a Game 4 victory at Orlando on Sunday.

What does history say about Boston’s chances of closing out the series in short order?

For starters, the C’s are 31-0 all-time when leading a series 3-1, per stats guru Dick Lipe. In those 31 series, they eliminated the opponent in five games 20 times, in six games nine times and in seven games twice.

The Magic are 0-7 all-time when they trail a series 3-1. They also have lost four consecutive elimination games. Orlando is 0-8 all-time on the road in Game 5 of a best-of-7 postseason series.

Wrapping up this first-round series as quickly as possible would give the Celtics some extra time to rest and recover before the Eastern Conference semifinals.

But the Magic aren’t likely to quit.

Paolo Banchero is a rising superstar. Franz Wagner is a confident player. Orlando has lost three times in four games but has played Boston pretty competitively throughout the series. This series could easily be tied 2-2 right now, but Tatum and Brown stepped up in the fouth quarter Sunday to lead the C’s to a much-needed win.

The Celtics excelled at ending series quickly in last year’s playoffs. None of their four series went past five games. Can they continue that trend? We’ll find out tonight.

Tip-off for Game 5 is set for 8:30 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Boston, with our coverage beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET with Celtics Pregame Live.

Butler has blunt Brooks admission after heated Warriors-Rockets Game 4 originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Warriors superstar Jimmy Butler wants to make one thing clear: he and Houston Rockets forward Dillon Brooks are not buddies.

After the 109-106 Golden State win in Game 4 of the Western Conference playoffs, Butler was asked if he and Brooks were having fun during the game, a notion the 35-year-old instantly dismissed.

“No, we’re not having fun,” Butler said. “Get me on the record with this: I don’t like Dillon Brooks. We’re never having fun. I’m a fierce competitor. He’s a fierce competitor. There ain’t nothing fun about that.”

"I don't like Dillon Brooks." — Jimmy Butler 😳 pic.twitter.com/84vxd5v4bz

— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) April 29, 2025

Game 4 was emblematic of the series up until this point: a brutal slugfest with both teams attempting to break the other mentally and physically. Technical and flagrant fouls abounded as longtime Warriors foe Brooks sparred with Steph Curry, Draymond Green and Butler. The Rockets played their typical rough-and-tumble style, contesting every shot and pestering the Warriors at every turn.

Butler returned from a one-game absence and gutted things out, performing masterfully down the stretch despite reeling from a painful pelvic contusion sustained in Game 2. Thanks to his gritty performance and another vintage defensive effort from Green, Golden State pulled out the win to go up 3-1 on Houston in the best-of-seven first-round series.

With a must-win Game 5 looming for Houston on its home court, expect Brooks and Butler to continue their fierce competition. And even if they might crack a smile or two while battling it out, remember: they’re not playing around.

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Source: Kings finalizing contract to make Christie next coach originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

It’s official. The “interim” title no longer is attached to Doug Christie’s job description.

The Kings are finalizing a multiyear contract to make Christie their next coach, a source confirmed to NBC Sports California. ESPN’s Shams Charania first reported the news Tuesday morning, citing sources.

Christie took over for Mike Brown, who was fired in late December following a 13-18 start to the 2024-25 NBA season. Under Christie, the Kings went 27-24 and finished as the No. 9 seed in the Western Conference.

After Sacramento’s season-ending NBA play-in loss to the Dallas Mavericks, Sacramento replaced former general manager Monte McNair with longtime executive Scott Perry. While speaking at his introductory press conference last week, Perry didn’t want to disclose too much information on the coaching search but detailed his relationship with Christie over the years.

“What I can tell you is I spent time with Doug Christie already,” Perry said. “I first met Doug Christie when he was a player at Toronto, so I admired him as a player, his career. I’ve watched him this year from afar in terms of his ability to have a presence on the court. I think he’s made a connection with players. We’ve had a few conversations up to this point. He was one of the first people I met with yesterday when I got into town.”

Perry added that his phone had been “incessantly” ringing with other potential coaching candidates interested in the job, and that he wanted to have a few more conversations before making a final decision.

Amongst the fired coaches who potentially were available for a new coaching gig are: Mike Budenholzer (last with Phoenix Suns), Michael Malone (last with Denver Nuggets) and Taylor Jenkins (last with Memphis Grizzlies).

And depending on how the rest of the NBA playoffs shake out, several other possible candidates could have become available, such as Milwaukee Bucks coach Doc Rivers, who currently is trying to dig his team out of a first-round playoff exit.

But Perry seemingly didn’t want to wait any longer. With a busy offseason ahead, he ticked one box off his long list of to-dos.

Christie, who played with the Kings for five seasons from 2000 to 2005, has a personal love and appreciation for the organization and city of Sacramento. You could see it through his emotions and feel it through his words each and every time he spoke at a pre- or postgame podium.

“This is where I want to be,” Christie said after the Kings’ season-ending loss. “I need to finish what I started, and that’s the only reason I ever stepped onto the sideline from where I was at initially. I had to exorcise some demons for myself.”

He also had support from several of his players.

“He did a good job for us when he came in, he tried to keep it real simple for us,” Kings guard Keon Ellis said during end-of-season exit interviews. “We have some really talented players on our team, so just try not to overdo anything, and let us go out there and be pros. He definitely didn’t want to do too much. … As far as his professionalism and his leadership, I think that’s a big thing when you’re talking about Doug. Former player. He has respect from everyone.

“I think he’s telling us the right things game in, game out, practice, whatever. The messages he’s given us are either the ones you don’t want to hear or the tough ones we need to hear. So just keeping it real with us and if you have that, you’re not going into any game with him telling you something that it’s not going to be. I think he did a good job at that. Those are the things that you need.”

Players during their exit interviews also talked about longing for some organizational stability and consistency, something lacking in Sacramento for several years. Perhaps hiring a man who has been tied to the franchise for more than two decades is the first step in bringing just that.

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Source: Kings finalizing contract to make Christie next coach originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

It’s official. The “interim” title no longer is attached to Doug Christie’s job description.

The Kings are finalizing a multiyear contract to make Christie their next coach, a source confirmed to NBC Sports California. ESPN’s Shams Charania first reported the news Tuesday morning, citing sources.

Christie took over for Mike Brown, who was fired in late December following a 13-18 start to the 2024-25 NBA season. Under Christie, the Kings went 27-24 and finished as the No. 9 seed in the Western Conference.

Sacramento was eliminated in the first NBA play-in game.

This story will be updated.

Podziemski shines in big, little ways in Warriors' Game 4 win originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO – As good as Brandin Podziemski was in terms of scoring – he was all that and a bag of chips, pouring in a playoff career-high 26 points – he was equally effective doing all of the other little things that Warriors fans have come to expect from the plucky second-year guard.

With his patented stand-your-ground mindset, Podziemski absorbed yet another charging foul, had five rebounds, five assists, two steals, and made a brilliant defensive gem after Rockets guard Fred VanVleet zipped around him headed for the hoop. Podziemski didn’t flinch and chased Van Vleet down, making a clutch block from behind with 4:22 minutes remaining to preserve Golden State’s slim lead.

When the Rockets got the ball back a few minutes then threw the ball out of bounds, Podziemski flexed and appeared to growl at the frenzied crowd.

Podz gets the block 🚫
Jimmy gets the layup 🤝 pic.twitter.com/QBEe0LRaV1

— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) April 29, 2025

“Obviously, it’s magnified a little bit because it was a key possession,” Podziemski said after Golden State’s 109-106 win. “But just understanding watching film, (Van Vleet) is not the best finisher in the paint. Either he wants to spray it out or shoot 3s a lot of the time.

“I wasn’t too worried when he got past me. Just kind of rode the drive. He went for a floater, I just tried to help (Draymond Green) out a little and get a piece of it.”

Podziemski has been doing the little things ever since he entered the NBA as Golden State’s first-round pick (No. 19 overall) in the 2023 NBA Draft.

That earned him a big spot in coach Steve Kerr’s rotations and has raised his standing in the hearts of many Warriors fans, including some of his own teammates.

“The skill is there but it’s his heart,” Green said. “I like to call it irrational confidence. He puts work in but he has irrational confidence. It’s one of those things I actually wish I had. He just has the ultimate belief in himself and his abilities. He’s been showing it for the last few months. 

“Tonight we need it in a major way and he stepped up.”

The 6-foot-5 Podziemski always has played bigger than his size and has had a no-fear mentality to go with that aggressive style. That earned him a spot with the closing five Monday when he was locked up with Van Vleet.

“Brandin’s big-time,” Kerr said. “Second-year player but plays like a 10th-year guy. He’s got so much poise and confidence. He was obviously a key to everything.”

Kerr noted that Podziemski, among several others, has benefited greatly since the team traded for Jimmy Butler.

“Jimmy’s arrival was huge for him,” Kerr said. “Once we got Jimmy, we were running a lot of offense through Jimmy, and that allowed Brandin to play on the other side. He’s at his best when he can do that.”

Podziemski didn’t get that deep and kept it pretty simple when summing up his performance in Game 4.

“Just tried to do my best to help (Stephen Curry) and we ended up getting the win,” he said. “That’s all we wanted tonight.”

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The Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Miami Heat 138-83 to secure a 4-0 first-round play-off series win and book their place in the Eastern Conference semi-finals.

Donovan Mitchell scored 22 points for the visiting Cavaliers, who were also helped by De'Andre Hunter adding 19 points, Ty Jerome scoring 18 points and Evan Mobley contributing 17 points as they won by the fourth-largest winning margin in an NBA play-off game.

"We came out here with a goal in mind, to keep our foot on their throat and on their neck and continue to play 48 minutes of basketball," Mitchell told TNT television

The 55-point margin was Miami's biggest play-off defeat and overtook the previous record of 37 points which had been set in the third game of the best-of-seven series.

"We were humbled, but they had so much to do with how we looked," said Miami coach Erik Spoelstra.

"None of us would have guessed this series would have gone this way coming out of our two play-ins. They just took it to another level. They left us behind these past two games."

The Cavaliers will play either the Milwaukee Bucks or the Indiana Pacers in the next round, with the latter leading that series 3-1.

In San Francisco, the Golden State Warriors took a 3-1 lead in the Western Conference first-round play-off series against the Houston Rockets with a 109-106 home win.

Jimmy Butler was back for the Warriors after missing game three with a pelvic injury and scored 14 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter, while team-mate Brandin Podziemski made six three-pointers in his 26 points.

The Warriors had trailed by seven points at half-time before going on an 18-1 run at the start of the third quarter, but the score was tied at 104 with one minute 20 seconds left of the contest.

Fred VanVleet scored 24 of his 25 points from three-point distance for the Rockets but missed a long-range shot in the final second that would have tied the game.

Game five will be in Houston on Wednesday, 30 April at 19:30 local time.

Bruised Jimmy Butler guts through pain, lifts Warriors past Rockets in Game 4 originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO – When a desperation heave by Houston’s Fred VanVleet, who couldn’t miss most of the night, went awry at the buzzer, the Warriors rejoiced with celebratory roars, high-fives and flying chest bumps.

Most of the Warriors, that is. Not Jimmy Butler III, who secured this 109-106 Game 4 victory Monday night by scoring Golden State’s final seven points and grabbing the most majestic and essential rebound of the series.

Nobody dared slam into Butler because everyone inside Chase Center knew that would be the most foolish moment on a night when foolishness was splattered all over the floor.

Butler was limited to understated satisfaction – with the tiniest trickle of a grin while limping triumphantly off the court – for a good reason. He’d spent part of his terrific second half clutching that bruised pelvis that kept him out of Game 3 and didn’t receive medical clearance until about an hour before tipoff.

“We had to have him,” coach Steve Kerr said. “If this were the regular season, he’d probably miss another week or two. But it’s the playoffs. He’s Jimmy Butler, so . . . this is what he does.”

Butler’s final few minutes were straight from the fantasies of everyone in the Warriors’ orbit, from CEO Joe Lacob and general manager Mike Dunleavy, who acquired Butler in February at a steep financial cost, to every player, coach, marketing associate and card-carrying member of Dub Nation.

A driving layup to give the Warriors a 104-101 lead with 2:12 remaining. Three free throws to give them a 107-106 lead with 58.7 seconds remaining. And The Rebound, a soaring snag that led to a foul that sent Butler to the line for the game-clinching free throws with four seconds left.

“First three quarters he couldn’t move,” Draymond Green said of Butler. “Yet he never complained. He stuck with it. I think what was most important, when the time was right, everybody on our side looked to get him the ball. When you get him the ball, he made great things happen for himself or for others. It was huge.

“I think my favorite play was the last rebound. I looked up, I thought it was (Jonathan) Kuminga out there flying. It was Jimmy.”

Jimmy with the pelvic bruise. Jimmy, whose discomfort was obvious. Jimmy, who, no matter his pain, couldn’t stomach the idea of missing another playoff game.

Butler ignored his pain and chased that rebound with the conviction of a man who would not be denied. Didn’t matter that his barrier was Houston’s massive Steven Adams, four inches taller, 35 pounds heavier, one of the best offensive rebounders in the league.

Green had forced a miss from Alperen Şengun, and an offensive rebound with 6.4 seconds remaining would have meant another shot for the Rockets, who trailed 107-106.

“I saw that I wasn’t battling with Adams the last play, so I was able to go up there and be a semi-athlete,” Butler said. “But I wanted the rebound. I told Dray, if you get a stop, I will get the rebound. He got the stop, and I got the rebound.”

Butler scored a team-high 27 points, 23 of which came after halftime and 14 of which came in the fourth quarter – representing most of Golden State’s 27 points – during which he played all 12 minutes.

“I thought it was winning time,” Butler said. “Doing certain things that the team needed me to do to go out there and help win finally. I started moving a little bit better.”

Butler acknowledged that he received extra motivation from the verbal volleys from Houston’s Dillon Brooks. The two sparred most of the night, barking at each other and bumping with each other. That’s typical of Brooks, but it backfired, putting the Rockets one game away from elimination.

“No, we’re not having fun,” Butler said. “Give me this: I don’t like Dillon Brooks. We’re never having fun. I’m a fierce competitor. He’s a fierce competitor. There ain’t nothing fun about that.”

The fun came at the final buzzer. Butler enjoyed it, but not nearly as rambunctiously as his teammates.

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Draymond keeps emotions in check to make Warriors' Game 4-winning play originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO – With five personal fouls including a Flagrant 1, not to mention yet another technical, Warriors forward Draymond Green had no intentions of slowing down his aggressive nature on defense or doing anything to alter his style on Monday night at Chase Center.

The only real issue for the former NBA Defensive Player of the Year was to avoid picking up a silly foul, which was a serious reality during a game when fouls were given out like candy.

In Green’s mind, it was well worth the risk of picking up his sixth and final foul rather than alter his game because of the situation.

“Just not pick up a cheap one, but I’m never going to be one of the guys that just because you got five [fouls] you don’t defend,” Green said after the Warriors’ 109-106 Game 4 win over the Houston Rockets. “I feel very confident in my defensive ability to defend without fouling. In that situation, you have to make sure your fundamentals are clean. That’s what I try to do.”

Green kept his emotions and fouls in check long enough to make the winning play of the game.

With the Dubs clinging to a 107-106 lead and the final seconds ticking away in the fourth quarter, Rockets center Alperen Şengün got the ball above the arc and tried to drive toward the left side of the key, looking for a go-ahead bucket. Instead, he got below the free-throw line and bumped into Green, who forced the former first-round draft pick into a rushed hook shot that missed the mark with 4 seconds left to play.

DRAYMOND GETS THE STOP ❌ pic.twitter.com/teYnj6UjFd

— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) April 29, 2025

Houston had another chance to tie the game a few seconds later when Fred VanVleet missed a 3-point attempt, allowing Golden State to take a very comfortable 3-1 lead in the first-round NBA playoff series.

“He knows we must have Draymond on the floor in order to win,” Jimmy Butler said. “The amount of poise he has when everything he does, it’s always blown out of proportion. To stay so calm, to come out there [and] get stops … a special human being. That’s why he’s the hustle man of the year. Remember that.”

Green indeed was selected as the 2024-25 NBA Hustle Award winner, though he had been making a serious case – on the court and in the media – to win his second DPOY Award.

"NO, NO, NO. NOT ON ME."

Draymond wasn't giving up a late bucket tonight 🤩 pic.twitter.com/LtgHztfdXe

— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) April 29, 2025

When that didn’t happen, Green reacted just like he did when he was in foul trouble against the Rockets. No reason to make a big fuss. Just keep it pushing.

“Draymond always walks the line, he always teeters on that line. He’s an emotional force, a physical force and he just can’t cross the line. He knows that,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “He’s done a great job of playing through the frustrations. This is a tough series for him. The way the game is being played, they’ve kind of taken the ball out of his hands a little it. He’s done a really good job of dealing with the frustration and competing. The last two games his fourth-quarter defense keyed everything.

“He’s the best defender I’ve ever seen in my life. He rises to the occasion. On top of being a great defender, he’s an incredible competitor.” 

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Jimmy Butler proclaims his joy is back after Warriors' Game 4 win over Rockets originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Nearly four months ago, as a member of the Miami Heat, Jimmy Butler admitted he had lost his joy and couldn’t get it back while in South Beach.

But on Monday night, Butler declared that his joy is back.

After helping the Warriors win a thrilling Game 4 over the Houston Rockets, Butler spoke to TNT’s Allie LaForce about his monster performance.

“It means the world,” Butler said after Golden State’s 109-106 win. “I’ll die for these guys. For real. It’s so fun. I got my joy back, as some would say. But more than anything, it’s always good to win.”

"I got my joy back, as some would say" 😆

Jimmy had jokes as he caught up with @ALaForce after the @warriors win in Game 4 🙌 pic.twitter.com/PpCsJ7aE4L

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) April 29, 2025

Butler missed most of Game 2 and all of Game 3 due to a left pelvic contusion, but he returned with a vengeance Monday night, scoring 27 points on 7-of-12 shooting from the field and 12 of 12 from the free throw line in 40 minutes.

The entire Warriors-Rockets series has been chippy but Game 4 featured several altercations, one of which got Butler going.

“Somebody said something to me,” Butler told LaForce. “That’s all it takes, somebody to say something to me gets me going every single time.”

The Warriors needed Butler’s gutsy effort in Game 4, and they’ll need more of the same when they try to close out the Rockets on Wednesday night in Houston.

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Podz makes assured declaration after Warriors' Game 4 win vs. Rockets originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Big-time moments create big-time players. 

With a series lead on the line, Warriors second-year guard Brandin Podziemski leaned into the challenge, igniting Golden State’s thrilling 109-106 Game 4 victory over the Houston Rockets on Monday night at Chase Center.

The 22-year-old registered a crucial 26 points that came on 9-of-18 shooting from the field, including 6 of 11 from beyond the arc, delivering one of his best performances to give the Warriors a 3-1 series lead over a feisty Rockets team.

But it wasn’t a coincidence; he knew he was ready for the big stage all along.

“I think it’s the work, and I know I’m built for this,” Podziemski told NBC Sports Bay Area’s Bob Fitzgerald and Kelenna Azubuike on “Warriors Postgame Live.”

“Good players in this league, they want the moment, and they don’t back away from it.”

"Chase was on fire tonight."

Brandin Podziemski loved the atmosphere for tonight's win 🔥 pic.twitter.com/8mV0y3UMS3

— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) April 29, 2025

In a game littered with physical and verbal exchanges and headlined by star wing Jimmy Butler’s return, Podziemski’s production made up for star Steph Curry’s 17-point game. 

In addition to his offensive finesse, Podziemski added five rebounds, five assists and two steals, while delivering crucial buckets in contentious moments. 

Podz off the glass plus the foul 😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/h90xl50bmC

— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) April 29, 2025

Although not perfect, Podziemski lived up to the moment.

“The two threes I missed at the end, I’m going to take those every time,” Podziemski added. “I’m built for this moment.

“I know what I put into this when nobody is watching. That’s how you build confidence. You got a lot of reps to prove it. And so, just by that, why doubt yourself?” 

On Monday night, Podziemski made it evident that as long as he doesn’t doubt his abilities, the Warriors’ postseason will continue marching forward.

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