The Golden State Warriors entered the 2025-26 campaign with championship expectations, especially after their strong performance following the Jimmy Butler trade in the previous season. Instead, they have stumbled out of the gate to a middling 6-6 record, and their on-court play has yet to match their high hopes.
While the team navigated off-court turmoil this summer surrounding Jonathan Kuminga’s contract, another, more subtle controversy was brewing. It involved third-year guard Brandin Podziemski, whose confidence may have rubbed some people the wrong way.
Did Brandin Podziemski’s Ambition Create Tension?
The Warriors have big expectations for Podziemski in his third season, but he has even loftier goals for himself. When a reporter asked him over the summer if he wanted to be as great as Stephen Curry, Podziemski boldly responded that he “wants to be better than him.”
Several people on the Warriors rolled their eyes when Brandin Podziemski said he wanted to be better than Steph Curry, per @anthonyVslater
“Podziemski made a number of comments in the lead-up to the season about his long-term career ambitions, including a news conference answer… pic.twitter.com/sI34xodIkN
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) November 12, 2025
According to ESPN’s Anthony Slater, that answer “elicited some eyerolls and continued references from several within the organization.” So far this season, the guard is averaging 12.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.3 steals per game in 28.4 minutes. His scoring has only seen a slight bump from the 11.7 points he averaged in his sophomore year, and his role remains inconsistent, as he has started seven of the team’s 12 games.
This inconsistency reflects a broader issue, as head coach Steve Kerr is still searching for a reliable starting five around Curry, Jimmy Butler, and Draymond Green. While Kuminga seems locked in as the fourth starter, Kerr has rotated Podziemski and Quentin Post in the final spot when the team is healthy.
What Does His Development Path Show?
One area where the Warriors wanted to see growth was in Podziemski’s three-point shooting. After his rookie season, he responded well by increasing his attempts from 3.2 to 4.8 per game in his sophomore campaign. This season, however, that number has dipped slightly to 4.6. Additionally, the 19th pick in the 2023 NBA Draft has seen a decrease in his usage rate, from 18.3% to 17.9%.
Podziemski’s early career contrasts sharply with Curry’s. When the Golden State Warriors drafted Curry with the seventh pick in the 2009 NBA Draft, the organization was in the midst of a rebuilding process. This situation gave Curry an immediate runway to produce, allowing him to start 77 games as a rookie with a usage rate over 21%. By his third season, Curry had already become a 20-point scorer.
While Podziemski is unlikely to eclipse Curry’s legendary career, the organization clearly views him as a key piece for the future. The franchise reportedly refused to include the 22-year-old in a trade package for Lauri Markkanen last summer, even though the Utah Jazz’s star wing has been on the trade block for multiple seasons.
Team owner Joe Lacob reinforced this belief at the 2024 NBA Summer League, where he raved about Podziemski’s rookie year. “We’re really excited. We think we have a future All-Star. We really do,” Lacob said. Now, the question is whether Podziemski can live up to that hype. Only time will tell.