In a post‑season press interview, Warriors rookie guard Brandin Podziemski reflects on his first NBA year and outlines his priorities for the upcoming offseason. He emphasizes a desire to take on a larger on‑court role, improve efficiency, raise his assist‑to‑turnover ratio, and contribute more to rebounding, aiming to lessen the load on veterans Steph Curry and Draymond Green. Podziemski discusses his plans to play in the Summer League alongside fellow rookie Trace, viewing it as a chance to lead, showcase his ball‑handling, and build chemistry with the next‑generation core. He credits the Warriors’ player‑development staff—Mike, Seth Cooper, Chris DeMarco, and Luhn—for their mentorship, especially noting the impact of Luhn’s locker‑room presence. The interview also covers his relationships with veterans: learning from Curry’s elite shooting, enjoying Klay Thompson’s camaraderie (including boat outings), and respecting Draymond’s leadership. Podziemski talks about the biggest challenge of an 82‑game season—maintaining perspective through wins and losses—and how he used game film to improve. Finally, he reflects on his confidence and personality, describing how his initially nervous, outspoken demeanor eventually found acceptance among the team, giving him a voice in practice and locker‑room discussions. He looks forward to a long offseason (April‑October) to further develop his game and contribute to the Warriors’ pursuit of a top‑six seed.
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Where do you feel like you need— you want to get better the most this summer?
Yeah, I think just naturally my role is going to increase. I think the ball will be in my hands a little bit more and just being more efficient, trying to take the burden kind of off Steph and Draymond's shoulders. How can the rest of our guys just impact things? I think a lot of times when we got into games that really mattered or we really need to win, we kind of just defer to Steph. And I think that's natural just because of the level, you know, that he's at and that he's been doing for so long. But I think for our other guys, it's just how can we impact games that are meaningful and, you know, take the burden off his shoulders.
Next.
I mean, yeah, I think it, that naturally, you know, comes with your second year of improving, but just in all facets of the game, continue to elevate my assist-to-turnover ratio, you know, try to lead the team in rebounding again, just all that kind of stuff that impacts winning at a high level. Because at the end of the day, you know, I don't want to be in the playing anymore. I had my little taste of it and it was terrible. So just getting that top 6 seed every year is something I look forward to.
Brandin, after getting drafted by a team like the Warriors with the roster that they have, could you have ever imagined having the impact that you did as a rookie?
Confidently, I would say yes, but also there's a realization of, you know, who you got in front of you, Hall of Famers, even, you know, when we had Corey at my position, he's an established veteran who's been on championship teams. So just knowing that, but going into each and every day, controlling the little things that I do, you know, playing well on defense, communication, all that kind of things, not turn the ball over, learning how to play with Steph and Klay allowed me to kind of get on the floor. And then when you're on the floor, just impacting winning, which I think I did with my plus-minus this year. I think that's— Yeah. Was a staple, and I think it's just going to continue to get better.
In your meetings with the coaches today, where, where did the Summer League come up in your conversations?
Yeah, I'll definitely be playing. I know me and Trace will. It's an opportunity for, you know, me and him to, to lead a team and to be the best players out there and to lead other guys. You know, who are new coming in or played on our G League squad with us and win. And I think it's super critical, you know, for Mike and for Steve to see the leadership that me and Trace can provide. And for me, it's an opportunity to show them what I can do with the ball in my hands. Obviously that sample size was, you know, obviously minimal because we had Steph and Chris. Yeah. But I think it did be a huge opportunity for me.
Was there a point this season where you felt, I don't just belong, but I can lead too?
Yeah, I mean, there's always that belief, but like I said in Anthony's question, there's just, you have Steph and you have CP and you don't want to overstep as a rookie. You understand what they've accomplished and what they bring to the table. So, I mean, I look, I look back at that, that Milwaukee game in Milwaukee. Stefan, CP didn't play and to do the things that I did, I think in that game kind of goes to show, you know, where I can get to. But at the end of the day, you know, we have those two guys and, you know, they're Hall of Fame guys. So just kind of finding my role as a rookie and, you know, trying to fit in where I can fit in, it was the biggest, you know, key for me.
You mentioned, I mean, you guys were in the play-in 10 seed. If the roster changes this summer, some are marginal, do you think you, I mean, you guys can't make a big league?
Yeah, because I think our young guys will get, you know, way better. Obviously everybody's confidence will take a step up. But like I said to your question earlier, just taking that burden off Steph and Draymond and not always having to rely on them. And so when teams, you know, scout for us, they're not just trying to take away, you know, Steph and Klay. They have to worry about, you know, me, Jonathan, Moses, Trace. Just knowing that and knowing how much better I can get. This is the longest offseason I've ever had in my life. You know, last year was the draft combine, pre-draft. The year before that I was in the transfer portal. And then in high school, you're playing AAU the whole summer. So to have April all the way till October now is a lot of room for me to get better. And I'm excited to see what I look like come October.
Brandin, what's the biggest challenge you learned from an 82-game season?
Biggest challenge. I think me and Steph talked about it, just putting everything into perspective. Nothing's ever as good or as bad as it seems. And knowing that there's going to be ups and there's going to be downs. You're going to win some, you're going to lose some, but the next game comes quick and there's not many practices in between. So kind of watching, you know, your previous games to get better, I think was super critical for me. And I think, Throughout the course of the year, each and every game I took a step up. And if I did take a step back, I took 2 more steps forward. So I feel like the way I finished out the year was pretty well from when I first played against Minnesota or whatever game, New Orleans, to yesterday. I think I've improved so much. And like I said, just this year, I'm going to be at come October, I think it will be exciting for me.
I think you and Steph's relationship has obviously been talked about, but whether it's a player, a coach, et cetera, who's someone maybe behind the scenes that has been a surprise in your development too?
Yeah, I think a lot of our player development staff, surprisingly Mike has been a huge piece of it. Obviously he has connections back to Wisconsin. So just being able to talk to him about stuff, we have a lot of player development guys, Seth Cooper, Chris DeMarco, all guys from Wisconsin. So to have that comfort and them have understanding of kind of where we come from and stuff like that, having Luhn around, has been, you know, super impactful. He's not a guy that's going to put up huge numbers, but his impact on our locker room is second to none. Just the insight that he provides, the confidence that he gives to our younger guys is something that, you know, kind of goes by the wayside because of everything else we have going on, but he's super impactful. What did you appreciate about being teammates with Klay this season? Oh my, it's amazing just to see a high-level shooter like that. Obviously being a teammate with the two best shooters in the world, in my opinion, was something I'm never going to forget. The way he just kind of goes about his life is pretty funny. Just his love for the water and always inviting me to go out on his boat and just being a really a team guy, obviously. People just talk about the free agency, the re-signing and all that kind of stuff. But, you know, he doesn't really kind of let that fall into our hands. He keeps kind of that his own kind of stuff. And for me, he's been a great teammate. He's always inspired me to do more. When I make a couple shots in the game, he always wants me to shoot more. So just hearing that from a Hall of Fame type of guy, was pretty special for me.
So did you go on the boat?
I went on there once, but I didn't get the full experience like Moses and Chris did.
You talked about briefly about Summer League with Trace. I know there's a group of young guys, obviously Jonathan, Moses, everybody, but how much of a bond do you feel with Trace as the same rookie class and the impact you guys had and how much have you guys talked about your expand, potentially expanding role, presumably expanding role in the next couple of years?
Yeah, I feel like he's a brother to me. I feel like every step of our NBA journey, we've been together and we've done it together from Santa Cruz, from summer league last year to being out of the rotation together. We ended up starting a game together against Utah a few weeks ago, but I'm super excited. Like I said, us 4 young guys are kind of the future, however way you want to look at that. And for me and Trace, just developing that connection, not only on the floor, but off the floor is something that's going to be, you know, impactful for years to come.
Are you, are you planning on spending a lot of time back home in Wisconsin this summer or sticking around here?
A little bit of both. I'll be around here, you know, for basketball stuff, getting better. Figuring out my body, doing things that will help me. But I'm definitely gonna go home, probably take a vacation or two just to relax.
And then like one common thing that came up with you is just your confidence. And even as a rookie being, you know, brash and loud in the locker room and in practice, I guess, what did you learn about how your personality fits in the NBA this year?
Yeah, I think for me, I was a little, I would say nervous or timid coming in just because you know, like what they've done and how they've done things. So for me, adding my personality and adding what I kind of bring, I didn't know if that would fit or it wouldn't. And I think it did for the best. And I think to the veterans' credit, they allowed me to be who I was and It kind of just flowed. And throughout the year, I kind of learned that I was able to have a voice and I was able to, you know, voice what I thought. And they actually took it into consideration and kind of listened to me and said some things, which that in itself kind of gives you a confidence level going into the new year that, you know, you bring leadership qualities and you can have a leadership role on this team being so young.
