Brandin Podziemski
American basketball player (born 2003)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Brandin Thomas Podziemski (/pəˈdʒɛmski/ pə-JEM-skee;[1] born February 25, 2003) is an American professional basketball player for the Golden State Warriors of the National Basketball Association (NBA). A guard, he played college basketball for the Illinois Fighting Illini and the Santa Clara Broncos. Podziemski was chosen by the Warriors with the 19th pick in the 2023 NBA draft. He is nicknamed "Podz".[2] Known for his hustle and three-point shooting, he is considered one of the best young players in the NBA. [3]
| No. 2 – Golden State Warriors | |
|---|---|
| Position | Guard |
| League | NBA |
| Personal information | |
| Born | February 25, 2003 Greenfield, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Listed height | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) |
| Listed weight | 205 lb (93 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | St. John's Northwestern Military Academy (Delafield, Wisconsin) |
| College |
|
| NBA draft | 2023: 1st round, 19th overall pick |
| Drafted by | Golden State Warriors |
| Playing career | 2023–present |
| Career history | |
| 2023–present | Golden State Warriors |
| 2023 | →Santa Cruz Warriors |
| Career highlights | |
| |
| Stats at NBA.com | |
| Stats at Basketball Reference | |
Early life and high school career
Podziemski grew up in Greenfield, Wisconsin and attended St. John's Northwestern Military Academy.[4] He was named first-team All-State after averaging 22.5 points and 9.3 rebounds per game as a sophomore with St. John's Northwestern Military Academy after not playing on the varsity team as a freshman at Muskego High School.[5] Podziemski averaged 27.6 points and 9.2 rebounds and repeated as a first-team All-State selection during his junior season.[6] He was named Wisconsin Mr. Basketball[7] as a senior after averaging 35.1 points, ten rebounds, 5.6 assists, and four steals per game.[8] Podziemski was also named the boys basketball Gatorade Player of the Year for Wisconsin in 2021.[9] Podziemski was rated a four-star recruit and committed to playing college basketball for Illinois over offers from Kentucky, Miami (FL), Vanderbilt, and Wake Forest.[10]
College career
Podziemski began his college basketball career with the Illinois Fighting Illini.[11] He played in 16 games as a freshman, all off the bench, and averaged 1.4 points per game. After the end of the season, Podziemski entered the NCAA transfer portal.[12]
Podziemski ultimately transferred to Santa Clara.[13] He entered his first season with the Broncos as the team's starting shooting guard.[14] After scoring only 22 points during his entire season at Illinois, Podziemski scored 30 points with 9 rebounds and 5 steals in Santa Clara's season opener against Eastern Washington as the Broncos won 84–72.[15] He scored 34 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in the following game against Georgia Southern.[16] NABC First Team, USBWA All-District, and All-WCC First Team.[17][18][19] Podziemski also earned WCC Player of the Week honors a SCU record four times, his 636 points was the fourth most in a season in program history, and his SCU three-point percentage was fourth-best in SCU program history.[17] Podziemski was one of only three NCAA Division 1 men's basketball players to average 19, 8, and 3 in the 2022–23 season and finished 5th in the nation in three-point field goal percentage (43.8%).[20]
Podziemski declared for the 2023 NBA draft while maintaining his eligibility.[21] After taking part in the NBA Draft Combine and receiving positive feedback, he decided to remain in the draft.[22]
Professional career
The Golden State Warriors selected Podziemski with the nineteenth overall pick in the 2023 NBA draft.[23] On July 3, 2023, the Warriors signed him to a contract.[24] Podziemski plays the guard position.[25]
On December 12, 2023, against the Phoenix Suns, Podziemski became the first Golden State Warriors rookie to have 20 or more points, 10 or more rebounds (11), and five or more assists in a single game since two-time NBA MVP Stephen Curry did so in the 2009–10 season.[26] On May 21, 2024, Podziemski was announced on the NBA all-rookie first team. Before the Olympic Games, he was drafted to the USA Select Team alongside his teammate Trayce Jackson-Davis.[27]
On December 28, 2024, during the Warriors' 109–105 win over the Phoenix Suns, Podziemski suffered an abdominal injury in the second quarter. He missed 12 straight games due to the injury. Podziemski returned on January 23, 2025, recording 10 points and four rebounds in a blowout win against the Chicago Bulls.[28][29] On February 5, 2025, Podziemski tallied a then career-high 29 points, along with six rebounds and four assists, in a 131–128 loss to the Utah Jazz.[30] On February 8, the NBA announced that Podziemski would play in their Rising Stars game as an injury replacement player for Cason Wallace.[31] On February 23, Podziemski recorded 17 points along with a then career-high 13 rebounds in a 126–102 win over the Dallas Mavericks, notching his first double-double of the season.[32] On May 14, he scored a playoff career-high 28 points in a 121–110 closeout loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 5 of the Conference Semifinals.[33]
On May 28, 2025, Podziemski underwent a successful left wrist debridement surgery.[34] On June 12, Podziemski underwent an additional surgery to repair a core muscle injury.[35] On April 10, 2026, Podziemski recorded a career-high 30 points in a 124–118 loss to the Sacramento Kings.[36] He appeared in all 82 games (starting 44) for Golden State during the 2025–26 season, averaging 19.6 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 3.7 assists.[37]
Personal life
Podziemski is of Polish descent and has expressed interest in obtaining Polish citizenship in order to play for the Poland national team. He is being recruited to the team by member Jeremy Sochan.[38][39]
Career statistics
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
| * | Led the league |
NBA
Regular season
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023–24 | Golden State | 74 | 28 | 26.6 | .454 | .385 | .633 | 5.8 | 3.7 | .8 | .2 | 9.2 |
| 2024–25 | Golden State | 64 | 33 | 26.8 | .445 | .372 | .758 | 5.1 | 3.4 | 1.1 | .2 | 11.7 |
| 2025–26 | Golden State | 82* | 43 | 28.5 | .455 | .371 | .797 | 5.1 | 3.7 | 1.1 | .2 | 13.8 |
| Career | 220 | 104 | 27.4 | .452 | .375 | .757 | 5.3 | 3.6 | 1.0 | .2 | 11.6 | |
Playoffs
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Golden State | 12 | 11 | 32.1 | .364 | .328 | .708 | 5.0 | 3.1 | 1.3 | .2 | 11.3 |
| Career | 12 | 11 | 32.1 | .364 | .328 | .708 | 5.0 | 3.1 | 1.3 | .2 | 11.3 | |
College
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021–22 | Illinois | 16 | 0 | 4.3 | .421 | .231 | .750 | .9 | .3 | .1 | .0 | 1.4 |
| 2022–23 | Santa Clara | 32 | 32 | 36.0 | .483 | .438 | .771 | 8.8 | 3.7 | 1.8 | .5 | 19.9 |
| Career | 48 | 32 | 25.4 | .480 | .424 | .770 | 6.1 | 2.5 | 1.2 | .3 | 13.7 | |