NBA star Brandin Podziemski confident he can be ‘special player in this league’ after ‘surreal’ scrimmages with Team USA
GOLDEN State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski didn't rest on his laurels after a superb NBA rookie campaign.
The ex-Santa Clara standout has had a busy summer, scrimmaging with Team USA and then playing for the Warriors in the Las Vegas Summer League.
Earlier in July, Podziemski, 21, joined the select team tasked with tiring out Team USA – featuring LeBron James and Steph Curry, among others – in the early stages of their pre-Olympics prep.
The 6-foot-4 guard received the invite after thriving in Golden State's system thanks to his all-around game during the 2023-24 NBA season.
Podz averaged 9.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 3.7 assists while shooting 38.5% from 3 to earn All-Rookie first-team honors and finish fifth in the Rookie of the Year voting.
He made 28 starts during the campaign and, eventually, found himself part of head coach Steve Kerr's closing lineup in a sign of his rapidly growing role.
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The three-day scrimmages with the Paris-headed Olympians only reinforced his belief he has a bright future in the NBA. The Wisconsin native told The U.S. Sun during the Las Vegas Summer League.
"Team USA just gave me a bunch of confidence, being able to compete, go against the best players in the world, being able to be successful," Podziemski said.
"Just kind of gave me that confidence to go into the season like, on a night-to-night basis, I know I can bring it and I know I can be a special player in this league."
Podziemski said that coming up against the NBA's Creme de la Creme took his breath away at first.
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However, once the ball went up in the air, it was business as usual.
"When you're on the sideline, it feels surreal and you're like, 'Wow, this is crazy. All the best players in one gym,'" the Warriors star said.
"But then, when you get in between those four lines, it's just hooping.
"And I think that's something special about me – I don't really get starstruck when I'm hooping.
"No matter who's in front of me, I just try to do my best. Whether it's LeBron, whether it's a rookie, whoever it is, I just try to do my best.
"I feel like that's just how I was raised and I'm gonna continue to do that."
Warriors owner Joe Lacob recently told NBC Sports that the franchise sees a future All-Star in Podziemski after emerging as last season's "revelation" – so much so Kerr had "trouble getting him off the floor."
Holding an already significant role on the Dubs, Podz was part of a group – also including Houston Rockets forward Cam Whitmore and Miami Heat starlet Jaime Jaquez Jr. – whose presence at the Summer League surprised many.
The Golden State guard acknowledged he didn't have to play in the tournament for the second straight year – but decided to do so anyway.
He thought the extra reps would be a "big step" for him going into Year 2 in the NBA.
Podziemski explained he wanted to see how the work he put in between April and June would translate into a game setting.
"And I think so far I'm very pleased," he said.
"Obviously, you can clean up some stuff always, but I'm very pleased of what my second year is kind of going to look like."
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Podziemski averaged 18.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, 6.5 assists, and 1.5 steals in the first two Summer League games, helping the Warriors reach the semifinals in Vegas with a 5-0 record.
With the guard and his Dubs teammate Trayce Jackson-Davis done for the rest of the tournament, Golden State missed the championship game with Friday's 102-99 loss to the Heat.