Is Brandin Podziemski becoming the Warriors’ next great guard?

When Steph Curry sits, most Warriors fans instinctively brace for offensive stagnation. It’s often times been the basketball equivalent of your internet cutting out right when you’re about to win a video game: something bad is about to happen and there’s not much you can do about it.

But Tuesday night against the Bucks told a different story, one where Brandin Podziemski isn’t just filling minutes in Curry’s absence. He’s actively hunting for his moment to shine, as in his first game back from injury he dropped 17 points on 4-of-7 shooting from deep, with 7 rebounds against Milwaukee. That’s not just confidence folks, that’s the kind of hunger that championship supporting casts are built on. Per NBC Sports, the Warriors are now 7-3 this season in games where Curry sits, and Podziemski is averaging 13.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 4.8 assists in those contests.

The Numbers Don’t Lie

Curious about exactly how rare Podz’s performance was, I dove into Stat Head to examine how many Warriors guards since the 2014-15 season have managed to hit the threshold of 4+ three-pointers, 17+ points, and 7+ rebounds in a single game.

The results tell a story that should have Warriors fans giddy about the future:

1. Stephen Curry: 117 instances (2014-15 to 2024-25)
2. Klay Thompson: 19 instances (2014-15 to 2022-23)
3. D’Angelo Russell: 4 instances (2019-20 to 2019-20)
4. Donte DiVincenzo: 4 instances (2022-23 to 2022-23)
5. Brandin Podziemski: 4 instances (2023-24 to 2024-25)
6. Damion Lee: 3 instances (2018-19 to 2019-20)
7. Jordan Poole: 3 instances (2021-22 to 2022-23)
8. Kent Bazemore: 2 instances (2020-21 to 2020-21)
9. Moses Moody: 1 instance (2021-22 to 2021-22)
10. De’Anthony Melton: 1 instance (2024-25 to 2024-25)
11. Buddy Hield: 1 instance (2024-25 to 2024-25)

Let that sink in. In roughly a season and a half of NBA action, Podziemski has already accumulated as many of these high-impact statistical performances as D’Angelo Russell and Donte DiVincenzo, and more than Jordan Poole did during his entire Warriors tenure. Knocking down four triples and grabbing seven boards in a close contest is the kind of versatility that wins playoff games. And let’s not forget he’s putting up numbers like this while being the 19th pick in the draft. He wasn’t picked to be a lottery selection expected to change a franchise.

What makes the Podziemski emergence particularly fascinating is that it validates the Warriors’ front office decision to move on from both Klay Thompson and Poole. When those moves happened, many questioned if Golden State had adequate replacements in the pipeline. Turns out they did: they just weren’t household names yet.

Podz isn’t just accumulating counting stats either. He’s becoming the perfect complementary guard for the Warriors system:

1. Elite rebounding from the guard position — showing exceptional glass-cleaning ability for a 6’4” guard, consistently punching above his weight class on the boards
2. Defensive tenacity — led the league in charges drawn as a rookie, pulling down more charges than 20 entire NBA teams
3. Efficiency in limited touches — doesn’t need 20 shots to make his presence felt
4. Floor awareness — already displaying the basketball IQ of a 10-year veteran

This isn’t to suggest Podziemski is the next Klay or that he’s already better than the Poole Party was. But the early returns suggest the Warriors identified something special in Podz that many other teams missed entirely.

What separates good role players from great ones is how they respond when thrust into larger responsibilities. Some shrink from the moment. Others, like Podziemski, actively understand that aggression in basketball isn’t just about hunting your own shot but about applying constant pressure in multiple ways. And Podz is proving he’s a something like a Swiss Army knife since he burst onto the scene in his rookie year.

Last season, Podziemski became the first Warriors rookie since Chris Webber (1993-94) to record at least 600 points, 400 rebounds, and 200 assists. He was the only rookie to lead his team in plus-minus (+264). And now he’s building on that foundation with performances that place him in statistical company with franchise icons.

For a Warriors team navigating the delicate balance between extending the Curry era and building for the future, Podziemski represents the perfect bridge player. He can contribute meaningfully to a championship pursuit while simultaneously developing into a potential cornerstone for the next iteration of the team.

Coach Steve Kerr clearly trusts him, deploying Podz in critical moments and increasingly complex roles. Draymond Green has taken him under his wing, imparting defensive wisdom and competitive fire. And most importantly, Curry himself seems to appreciate what Podziemski brings to the table: the ultimate stamp of approval in Warriors Land.

The “next great Warriors guard” title isn’t something to bestow lightly, especially given the franchise’s storied backcourt history. But the early evidence suggests Podziemski could be working his way into that conversation, one licked chop at a time.And for a 19th pick who wasn’t even expected to crack the rotation as a rookie? That’s enough to make the rest of the league question what they missed in their pre-draft evaluations.

Just don’t tell them yet. Let’s keep that particular secret in the Bay for a little while longer.