The Golden State Warriors were already walking a tightrope heading into Game 2 against the Minnesota Timberwolves. But after a crushing 93–117 defeat, and without Stephen Curry in the lineup, that rope just got thinner. Guess who’s now balancing on it? Brandin Podziemski. He’s trying to steer a ship missing its captain. Poor guy. Or is he?

With Curry out, there’s no plug-and-play solution. Because let’s be for real, you don’t just “replace” Steph. But someone’s gotta keep the engine running. According to Steve Kerr, that someone is a 22-year-old rising star who already carries himself like a vet. No pressure, right?

From day one, Brandin Podziemski has brought a cool and collected spark to the game. He plays like he’s pursuing a PhD in confidence. But being the reliable sidekick is one thing. Being the guy? Whole different story. When asked about the challenge ahead for the rising star, Kerr didn’t sugarcoat it: “Yeah. The challenges are, you know, with Steph out. He’s playing more in the ball handling role that, you know, he was in early in the season,” Kerr said postgame.

It’s a role reversal, and not the easy kind. Podziemski, known for his knack for slipping into plays off-ball, now finds himself calling the shots. Literally. And sure, he’s done it before, but doing it under the playoff spotlight? That’s a new level. “And we’ve talked about it. He’s at his best when he can kind of play off the second side, play as a secondary ball handler,” Kerr added. “We can still, you know, sort of do some things to allow that to happen.” 

Hold up, secondary ball handler? Podziemski has thrived all season when reacting off the action, not starting it. He’s been the guy who reads the room and finds the gap, kind of like the smart friend in a group project who quietly does everything right. But with Steph on the bench and Jimmy Butler catching breathers, Podziemski is now being asked to toggle between roles. And fast.

Need proof he can handle it? Look at his average stats — 9.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists — solid. Add in his high-IQ reads and selfless play, and you’ve got a guy who can shape-shift between floor general and connector, depending on the moment. This isn’t just about “next man up” anymore. This is “how do we evolve on the fly?” territory.

Brandin Podziemski’s evolving role proves he’s more than just a rising star for the Warriors

Brandin is quietly becoming one of the Warriors’ secret weapons, and the team’s taking notice. “You know, Draymond can handle the ball more. Jimmy can handle the ball more. And we can put Brandon in positions, you know, to be more impactful offensively,” Kerr said. Translation? We’ve got options, and Podz is one of the best. Even when he’s not stuffing the stat sheet, Podziemski is leaving fingerprints all over the game. In Game 2, he tallied 6 assists, 6 boards, 2 steals, a little bit of everything. The guy’s literally like duct tape: doesn’t always shine, but holds things together.

“But I still think, you know, even without scoring a ton, you know, six assists, six rebounds, a couple steals, this guy can play.” That’s the Kerr stamp of approval right there. Quiet, but strong. He’s not wrong, though. Podziemski’s been Mr. Consistent with 10 points, 5 rebounds, 4.5 assists in the five games before the playoffs. And when he does go off? He goes off. Remember the 29 against Utah? Or the 28 and 8 threes against the Lakers? Yeah, that guy’s still in there.

For those not familiar with Brandin’s records, on February 5, 2025, Podziemski dropped a career-high 29 points against the Utah Jazz, adding 6 rebounds and 4 assists — a night that proved he could take control of the offense when needed. He followed that up with another eye-opener on March 30, scoring 28 points, draining a career-high eight 3-pointers, and adding 8 rebounds and 6 assists in a crucial win over the Lakers. Those aren’t just flashes. They’re signs of a player learning to rise in high-stakes moments.

The Warriors’ offense may have sputtered — “we’ve gotta find some better ways to score 93 points tonight,” Kerr admitted, but if they’re going to right the ship, Podziemski will be part of the solution, not the scapegoat. “So we’ve we’ve gotta find a little more offensive rhythm,” Kerr said.

Part of that rhythm lies in trusting Podziemski’s ability to adapt. His growing confidence has caught the attention of Draymond Green, too. He recently called Podziemski “one of the smartest young players I’ve been around,” noting how Brandin doesn’t try to do too much. It’s that balance, effort without ego, that’s kept him in the rotation even when shots aren’t falling.

“I like to call it irrational confidence… although he puts work in. But he has irrational confidence. It’s one of those things I actually wish I had,” Green added. There it is. That fearless swagger you can’t teach. Podziemski walks onto the floor like he’s been doing this for years. And the truth? Sometimes it feels like he has. And a player as great as Green wishing he had something, a relatively new player, has? That’s a whole other level of praise in itself.

Whether it’s Curry, Kerr, or Green, one thing that remains constant is that the Warriors don’t give up on their own. Never have, never will. And from the sound of it, Brandin Podziemski’s just getting started. There will be bumps, of course. Sure, he went 2-of-7 from the field against Minnesota. So what? Everyone has a cold night. The Warriors care less about box scores and more about what happens between the plays, the reads, the hustle, and the heart.

As Kerr fine-tunes the rotations, Podziemski’s minutes aren’t shrinking. They’re here to stake a claim. That’s a clear sign that the coaching staff believes he’s ready to grow through the fire. And if recent trends hold, if Podziemski continues contributing across the stat sheet, even if the scoring dips, it might not be long before he moves from promising prospect to crucial piece. Because in the Golden State, the future isn’t just about big names and bold shots. Sometimes, it’s built in the quiet hustle of a 22-year-old rising star who just won’t quit.