Brandin Podziemski isn’t your average 22-year-old.
The Warriors guard, who was drafted by the team No. 19 overall in 2023 and has started multiple high-stakes games for Golden State over the past two seasons, already is thinking about the future and is ready to take that next step in his career.
While he’s had the luxury of learning from some of the best in the game, such as Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green, his next goal is having those same players — plus the Warriors’ top decision-makers — trust him enough to leave him the keys to the franchise when they’re gone.
“When they leave this thing, they got to leave it with somebody,” Podziemski told The Athletic’s Nick Friedell in an exclusive interview. “How can I have their trust? And they can go to [owner] Joe [Lacob] and [general manager] Mike [Dunleavy] and be like, “Hey, we want to leave it with him. He’s going to continue what we’re leaving.
“So, I think about that all time, and I set myself up in that position to have that. And there’s a lot of other things than just skill that you need to be in that position.”
There has been much chatter about life after Steph, and what that could look like.
Would the franchise turn to Podziemski? Jonathan Kuminga? Whose team would it be?
Curry, 37, made it clear he still has plenty of gas in the tank as he aims for ring No. 5, but he’s also acknowledged that he’s approaching the tail end of his career.
Podziemski knows he has some growing up to do, emotionally, to gain that trust.
“There’s a next step in evolving emotionally, and as a leader,” Podziemski told Friedell. “Having confidence from your teammates is one thing, especially the vets, but them trusting you in big moments that could define their career. Could add another piece to their career. For them to have trust in you is a different thing, and you got to earn that over time, and I think that’s a goal of mine going into this season.”
Over the last two-plus years, Podziemski has noticed how hard everyone plays for Curry and the Warriors vets. He’s one of those players.
But someday, he hopes younger players do the same for him.
“Nobody wants to play so hard for Steph [just] because he can shoot the s–t out of the ball,” Podziemski told Friedell. “Nobody wants to play hard for Draymond [just] because his voice is the loudest. It’s doing the right things consistently, being at the right place, the right time, always taking young guys under their wing, showing them the way. That’s the reason why game days, people play so hard for Steph. If someone knocks him down we’re always right there, got his back.
“It’s not because he can shoot the ball that that’s the case. It’s so many other things. So, you want to take that and grab your own version of it and apply it. So, when the younger guys come in, and this is my team, if I get that opportunity, they have a reason to play hard for me too.”
Warriors coach Steve Kerr has been impressed with what he’s seen from Podziemski thus far, as the young guard is set to enter Year 3. Speaking to the media after Day 1 of training camp practice, Kerr applauded Podziemski for taking a “big leap” during the second half of last season.
But when asked what those next steps look like for Podziemski to take another leap in his third NBA season with Golden State, Kerr also acknowledged that emotional maturity is one of the main things.
“Honestly, you’ll laugh,” Kerr began. “But leaving the refs alone. That’s important. It’s important to his energy, his mindset, it’s important for our team’s mindset. And taking that next step in terms of being more even-keeled. One of the hardest lessons I ever learned as a player is when you have that bad night, you have to move on quickly, and you can’t let it get to you. You can’t carry it over into the next day’s practice.”
Podziemski admitted he has made a “conscious effort” to keep his emotions in check.
Once he masters that, whenever that might be, he hopes that will help give him a better chance of one day being the leader of the Warriors.
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