Getting booed by your own city is never easy, especially when it happens outside your primary sport. That awkward moment unfolded at Oracle Park, where Brandin Podziemski heard jeers from a San Francisco Giants crowd, a reaction that clearly didn’t sit right with his head coach. For Steve Kerr, the situation struck a nerve. The Golden State Warriors coach didn’t hide his disappointment when addressing the incident, especially given Podziemski’s visible commitment to the Bay Area and its teams.

The 23-year-old guard has made a habit of showing up in support of local franchises, building a reputation as an energetic presence beyond the basketball court. But that goodwill didn’t translate at the ballpark, where some fans voiced their frustration—likely tied to earlier comments and his occasionally polarizing style of play, which surprised Steve Kerr.

“Well, I didn’t see it, but if so, that’s pretty disappointing,” said Kerr on the Willard & Dibs podcast. “I know that he can be a little bit of a polarizing figure with our fans, but I would hope people recognize just the good things that he does for us and what a good player he is. I think some of the reaction from fans, if there’s booing at the Giants game or whatever, some of that might just be, ‘Hey, he said some things early in the year that maybe rubbed people the wrong way, wanting to be better than Steph, whatever.’

But look, he’s a young guy, and he’s growing, and he’s maturing, and he’s really a good player. He does so much for our team that I think people don’t recognize and don’t see. His rebounding, his ball handling, you can put him in any spot. When I draw a play, I can have him be the handler, the shooter, the screener, the diver. He really sees the game well. But yes, he’s got a lot to improve on, but that’s what being a young player is all about.”

The interesting thing is that Brandin Podziemski attended Friday night’s game at Oracle Park alongside Warriors rookie Will Richard. But when the two were shown on the TV broadcast and the big screen during the game, some fans booed Podz only when his name was called. It came as a surprise to Steve Kerr, who has been one of the few bright spots for the team.

Kerr even urged fans to stay patient with Podz’s development. The head coach reminded everyone that the young guard had only two years of development, the first of which was in Illinois, where he played only 4.3 minutes per game. In the next year with Santa Clara, that’s when Podziemski made his mark, and now he is in his third year with the Warriors.

The 23-year-old has also scored 20 points or more in 5 games out of 7 and has been one of the most potent scorers on the team. But Steve Kerr also acknowledged that the personality trait may have created a perception among fans that led them to dislike the young guard.

Steve Kerr had advised Podziemski on the Stephen Curry comparison

Before the season began, the Wisconsin native made his goal clear: to become a household name with the Warriors. But there was another quote in which he declared his intention to be better than the Bay Area’s favorite, Stephen Curry. “I want to be better than him. I think that’s a tall task, but I want to maximize my talent in the league and get as much out of it as I can.”

This is what Steve Kerr was referring to. In fact, the head coach had previously warned the young guard that the statement would haunt him. “There are other ways of showing your confidence than saying you’re going to be better than Steph Curry.” In fact, Kerr blamed Podz for getting in this situation, saying, “He’s put some of that on himself, and when you’re brash and confident, that’s kind of the way it works.”

Podziemski did clarify this statement last week, “I think I could have worded them a little bit differently. But I also think how it’s perceived on the internet is a little taken out of context.” But it seems the mixed bag of displays and a brash personality type has earned him a reputation that has drawn boos at Oracle Park.