Rookies Brandin Podziemski and Trayce Jackson-Davis did ‘a lot of good things’

LOS ANGELES — Steve Kerr made a firm declaration before the Warriors’ first preseason game, telling reporters that both Brandin Podziemski and Trayce Jackson-Davis were planted on the outside of the rotation.

Many coaches wouldn’t be as transparent with their initial leanings. But this is a veteran-heavy group that has learned its lesson the past couple of seasons: Gifting minutes to younger players doesn’t necessarily lead to desired developmental results or healthy team dynamics.

“Very rarely does a rookie, five days in, work his way into the rotation,” Kerr said. “Those guys are rookies. They’ve gotta earn it.”

Two weeks of training camp and two preseason games won’t significantly alter the equation. But both Jackson-Davis and Podziemski, in particular, have started to inch the boulder up the mountain. The Warriors beat the Lakers in Los Angeles on Friday night, 129-125, and both rookies were part of the closing group that helped seal it late.

“That was the highlight of the game,” Kerr said. “Fourth quarter. Those guys doing a lot of good things to help us win the game. Good possessions, offensive boards, having to feel that game pressure and coming through.”

Podziemski, drafted higher (19th overall), is closer to carving out some type of regular-season role. Draymond Green sprained his ankle and Cory Joseph, the third string point guard, strained his back in a pickup game right before camp. That pushed Chris Paul into the starting lineup and left the backup point guard job temporarily open for Podziemski.

“We didn’t know what position he was when we drafted him,” Kerr said. “But he’s just a basketball player. He feels the game, he’s fearless and he makes winning plays over and over again. We’re really excited about this guy.”

Kerr has opted for a regimented first half rotation in the preseason. He’s kept his starters tied together and then line-changed to this second unit: Gary Payton II, Moses Moody, Jonathan Kuminga, Dario Šarić and Podziemski — in place of Paul or Joseph — as their point guard.

Podziemski has guided the ship well, pushing the pace, getting off the ball when necessary, running the occasional pick-and-roll confidently and scoring when the situation calls for it. Against the Lakers, he had 10 assists and zero turnovers. In both games, he grabbed six rebounds. Kerr has repeatedly mentioned that Podziemski has led the team in deflections during practices and scrimmages.

These are the type of possessions that gets Kerr excited about him. Podziemski always keeps the action moving. He throws a hit-ahead post pass to Jonathan Kuminga early in the clock, sets a down screen for Šarić, pops back out for a quick pick-and-roll, probes into the paint and finds Gary Payton II cutting backdoor for a dunk.

Here’s another example. It’s his ninth assist of the game, beginning because of his sixth rebound. Even at his size, Podziemski led the WCC with 8.8 rebounds per…