Brandin Podziemski wouldn't have been shocked with Moses Moody's return to the starting lineup on Wednesday against the San Antonio Spurs, but another major change from the Golden State Warriors would have certainly delivered a painful gut punch to the third-year guard.
Podziemski and fifth-year forward Jonathan Kuminga are commonly viewed as Golden State's two most talented (and valuable) young players, yet both will find themselves coming off the bench for the time being as Steve Kerr stunningly turns to rookie guard Will Richard.
Will Richard's starting role sums up Brandin Podziemski's early form
Podziemski would have been going into the season looking to solidify the starting role he had after the All-Star break, while also taking the leap closer to stardom that could reduce the gap between the Warriors and the top tier of contenders in the Western Conference.