The Golden State Warriors have never been short on confidence.
Jonathan Kuminga believes he’s more than the role player coach Steve Kerr envisions.
Now, another young Warrior — guard Brandin Podziemski — is openly staking his claim to the franchise’s future.
The 22-year-old guard, entering his third NBA season, has his eyes set on something bigger than a rotation role. He’s thinking long-term — post-Stephen Curry, post-Draymond Green, post-Jimmy Butler.
“When they leave this thing, they’ve got to leave it with somebody,” Podziemski told The Athletic. “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.’”
Podziemski added that taking that mantle requires more than talent. “There are a lot of other things than just skill that you need to be in that position,” he said.
The Curry Heir Apparent?
Getty Brandin Podziemski of the Golden State Warriors celebrates with Stephen Curry after scoring a fastbreak.
It’s bold talk for a player who’s still finding his place in the rotation, but the Warriors have long admired Podziemski’s mindset.
Owner Joe Lacob once called him a “future All-Star.” Kerr affectionately refers to him as the team’s “connector” — the glue guy who balances the floor and keeps possessions flowing.
“I want to be a third option for this team,” Podziemski said. “I want to be a guy where Steph and Jimmy are out, like they can rely on me to help win games.”
Through two preseason games, Podziemski’s numbers have been modest. He’s toggled between starting next to Curry and coming off the bench, showing flashes of his potential but also inconsistency.
Against the Los Angeles Lakers in the opener, he impressed — finishing with eight points, four assists, and two steals in 18 minutes while posting a plus-16. Kerr highlighted his poise and decision-making.
Three nights later, the shine dulled. Coming off the bench against Portland, he finished with five points, four rebounds and three assists, but was minus-17 in 18 minutes.
Those swings, Kerr admitted, are part of the process for a young guard learning how to coexist with stars like Curry and Butler while leading second units on his own.
Answering the Challenge
Podziemski’s motivation stems from how last season ended. The Warriors went 7–5 without Curry during the regular season, but their campaign unraveled in the playoffs when the superstar strained his hamstring in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals. They lost four straight to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
“So, the narrative is, ‘They can only win with Steph,’” Podziemski said. “I heard it throughout the playoffs and the offseason — ‘They only can win if Steph plays, if Jimmy plays.’ As a player, that motivates you.”
He revealed he entered last season chasing the league’s Most Improved Player award but fell short. Now, his goal is team-oriented: proving the Warriors can survive — and thrive — without their aging core on the floor.
Proving Ground Ahead
Kerr has already signaled that the team will manage its veterans carefully this year. Curry, Green, Butler and Al Horford are expected to sit out parts of back-to-back games, giving Podziemski opportunities to lead.
Golden State has 15 back-to-back sets this season — tied for the second most in the league — and Podziemski has already circled them on his calendar.
“When they’re out and we start winning,” he told The Athletic, “I expect the same people to be like, ‘Yeah, they can win without them now.’”
It’s an ambitious target for a third-year guard still refining his game, but confidence has never been in short supply around the Warriors’ locker room.
Kuminga wants to be more than a role player. Podziemski wants to inherit the throne.
For now, the Warriors’ future remains firmly in Curry’s hands — but Podziemski is already preparing for the day he takes it.
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