Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski was forced to exit Friday night’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies and head to the locker room following a physical play involving 7-foot-4 center Zach Edey.
The incident occurred during the first quarter as Podziemski, a left-handed guard for the Warriors, operated on the perimeter and initiated a give-and-go toward the basket. The move initially succeeded in getting Podziemski behind Edey, but the towering Memphis center scrambled to recover and contest the play at the rim.
Edey arrived late to the defensive position and missed the ball with his swat attempt, instead bringing his forearm down and striking Podziemski in the head. The guard managed to convert the drive for a basket despite the contact, but immediately felt the impact of the blow and required medical attention before departing for the locker room. It was not immediately clear how severely Podziemski was injured on the play.
The sequence highlighted the defensive challenges and physical presence presented by Edey, whose unusual height creates distinct matchups across the league. Edey is generally deployed in limited stints by the Grizzlies to manage his workload rather than playing extended stretches.
However, early-season roster constraints have placed additional demands on the young center. The Grizzlies acquired Isaiah Stewart from the Detroit Pistons during the 2026 NBA Draft in exchange for future second-round picks to serve as a quality backup and enforcer-type presence behind Edey. With Stewart currently sidelined by an injury, Memphis faces added pressure in the frontcourt during the opening stages of the campaign, putting an even stronger spotlight on Edey’s minutes and defensive rotations.
