On Monday, it was announced that Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski had been named to the All-Rookie First Team, where he joins Victor Wembanyama, Chet Holmgren, Jaime Jaquez Jr., and Brandon Miller. It’s one heck of an accomplishment for Podziemski, who was nearly joined by his teammate Trayce Jackson-Davis — the first player out, missing the Second Team by one point.
Making the All-Rookie team is an awesome accomplishment that Podziemski should certainly celebrate. But how telling is it? Not all of the All-Rookie classes can be as good as 2003-04, when the voters selected LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, and Kirk Hinrich. But usually, when we look back on the All-Rookie teams, they paint a fairly accurate picture as to who emerged as impact players long term.
But I was curious, so it seemed like a good time to travel back in time … and look at the 21 Warriors to make the All-Rookie team before Podziemski. It’s worth noting that prior to the 1988-89 season, the NBA only had one All-Rookie team, instead of two. So surely the Dubs would have had a few additional Second-Teamers in there otherwise.
Here’s the full list in reverse chronological order, including some important context: what other players make the All-Rookie team that year, and how the player did in the ensuing season.
It pains me to say it, but Paschall kind of represents the worst-case scenario for a player on the All-Rookie team. When you make the team — especially the First Team — it isn’t expected that your best days are already behind you. But that’s what happened for Paschall, who jumped on the scene as a second-round pick on a 15-win squad, playing 1,654 minutes and scoring 837 points … and then only logging 1,431 more minutes and 715 more points in his career (though of course he could get back to the NBA again some day).
