Brandin Podziemski’s season, which has been sine wave-like, has triggered mixed reactions from fans. The reserve guard for the Golden State Warriors has been in focus ever since Stephen Curry’s injury, as he is looked at to be a reliable scoring option.
However, consistency has been an issue, and his previous comments about his growth in the league are now putting the pressure squarely back on the Wisconsin native. Recently, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr weighed in on fans’ perception of Podziemski.
Steve Kerr Reflects on Brandin Podziemski’s Bold Goals for the 2025-26 NBA Season
Speaking on 95.7 The Game, Kerr traced the divisive reactions from fans to Podziemski’s comments ahead of the season. The guard had stated that he wanted to be better than Curry. “I want to be better than him,” Podziemski had said, per NBC Sports.
“I think that’s a tall task, but I want to maximize my talent in the league and get as much out of it as I can.” In response, Kerr said the bad press on the young player was a result of his own words.
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“He’s a really interesting, unique player, and I think a lot of the reactions from fans, to be blunt, he laid the expectations out there for himself,” Kerr said.
“At the beginning of the year, saying he’s going to be better than Steph. One of the things you learn as a young player is how to handle the media, and I think that one was a sign of his confidence, which I like, but there are other ways of showing your confidence than saying you’re going to be better than Steph Curry.”
This season, Podziemski is averaging 12.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.8 assists in 72 games. In Curry’s absence, there is an expectation for the Santa Clara alum to crank up his scoring a few notches. While his durability is impressive, the Warriors will need more from him as they struggle to hold on to a playoff spot.
Podziemski’s scoring inconsistency, coupled with adjusting as the team’s primary playmaker, has seen him feel the heat this season. However, Kerr and the team have maintained that the learning curve will soon see him become a dependable force for the Warriors.
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At the time of writing, the Warriors are 34-38 and 10th in the Western Conference. If the play-in tournament were today, they would have to beat the ninth-placed Portland Trail Blazers, then beat the losing team between the Los Angeles Clippers and the Phoenix Suns.
As for Curry, the sharpshooter has missed the last 20 games for the Warriors with a runner’s knee. They are 6-14 during that stretch, and now the hope is for the side to desperately get an offensive boost from Podziemski and the rest of the squad.
