Warriors Make Big Decision on Brandin Podziemski

It's been a strong start to his career for Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski. For the third straight season since being selected in the first round by the Dubs (19th overall, 2023 NBA Draft), Podziemski has upped his scoring. He's filling it up from downtown, at a sizzling 42.3% clip through five games.

The Warriors certainly have high hopes for him, so while his rebounding and playmaking are down a tick from his first two years, the team has still seen enough to know that they want to keep this kid around, and have done the expected, exercising the team's fourth-year option on the 22-year-old.

Warriors exercise team option on Brandin Podziemski: pic.twitter.com/2HKoCimuat
— Warriors PR (@WarriorsPR) October 30, 2025

The move will keep Podziemski around on his rookie deal through the 2026-27 season at least, at a $5.6 million salary. He'll be eligible for a rookie-scale extension this upcoming summer.

The Wisconsin native, who played his college ball at Illinois and Santa Clara, made All-Rookie First Team honors to begin his career in 2023-24, averaging 9.2 points and 5.8 rebounds while shooting better than 38% from three-point land. He upped his scoring to 11.7 last season, while starting just over half of his 64 games.

This year, he's registering 12.2 points per game.

"He's not at his best right now," Kerr said. "Brandin always wants to be great. Sometimes he just needs to relax and be good, and that's when his play becomes great."

The Warriors do see him as a critical bridge between the team's past (and current) Steph Curry era, and the future.