Is Brandin Podziemski looking forward to playing without Stephen Curry on the Warriors?

Brandin Podziemski was one of the breakout stars for the Golden State Warriors this season. While a lot of the headlines focused on Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler, Podz quietly had a great year.

In fact, he averaged 11.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 3.4 assists as a rotation player, becoming one of the most reliable names on the roster.

Podziemski’s playoff performances left Steve Kerr quite disappointed. However, as it turns out, Podziemski was playing through injuries in the postseason, and had surgery after the elimination.

With the season now behind him, Podz is looking at his future, not just in the short term, but in the long term.

Los Angeles Lakers v Golden State WarriorsPhoto by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images

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Brandin Podziemski on future ambitions post-Stephen Curry

Brandin Podziemski was a guest on the Kay Adams Show. He spoke about his future ambitions in the NBA.

The first thing he mentioned was being an NBA All-Star, followed by representing Team USA at the Olympics and winning a championship. However, Podz added that it didn’t have to be with Stephen Curry or the Warriors.

“Obviously, I want to be an All-Star as soon as I can be, whether that’s with Steph and them here, or it’s when they’re done.”

“I want to do that. I want to be an Olympian in 2028 — definitely something I have my sights on. 

“And I just want to be a household name, somewhere where it can be me and a bunch of other guys winning a championship. That’d be kind of ideal for me.”

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Warriors must evaluate building with Podz

The Golden State Warriors tried to build the Warriors through the two-timeline approach in the 2020s. After Kevin Durant’s departure and Klay Thompson’s consecutive injuries, they had to change strategy.

However, their draft selections weren’t great, with James Wiseman turning out to be a bust, Jonathan Kuminga not impressing Steve Kerr, and Moses Moody settling into a bench role.

While the Warriors did win an NBA championship, their recruitment of young players has been far from successful. But Podziemski might be the exception to that rule.

If the Warriors are looking at their long-term future, Podziemski might be one of the few pieces that they need to hold on to.