GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS MEDIA CONFERENCE

April 17, 2024

Brandin Podziemski

Media Conference

Q. Where do you feel like you want to get better the most?

BRANDIN PODZIEMSKI: Yeah, I think just naturally my role is going to increase. I think the ball will be in my hands a little bit more and just being more efficient, trying to take the burden kind of off Steph and Draymond's shoulders. How can the rest of our guys just impact things. I think a lot of times when we got into games that really mattered or we really need to win, we kind of just deferred to Steph, and I think that's natural, just because of the level that he's at and that he's been doing for so long, but I think for our other guys it's just, how can we impact games that are meaningful and take the burden off his shoulders.

Q. (No microphone.)

BRANDIN PODZIEMSKI: Yeah, I think that naturally comes with your second year of improving. But just in all facets of the game, continue to elevate my assist to turnover ratio, try to lead the team in rebounding again, just all that kind of stuff that impacts winning at a high level. Because at the end of the day I don't want to be in the play-in any more, I had my little taste of it and it was terrible, so just getting that top 6 seed every year it something I look forward to.

Q. After getting drafted by a team like the Warriors with the roster that they have, could you have ever imagined having the impact that you did as a rookie?

BRANDIN PODZIEMSKI: Confidently, I would say yes, but also there's a realization of who you got in front of you, Hall of Famers, even when we had Cory, in my position, he's an established veteran, who has been on championship teams. So just knowing that, but going into each and every day controlling the little things that I do, playing well on defense, communication, all that kind of thing, not turn the ball over, learning how to play with Steph and Klay, allowed me to kind of get on the floor, and then when you're on the floor, just impacting winning, which I think I did with my plus/minus this year. I think that's, that was a staple and I think it's just going to continue to get better.

Q. In your meetings with the coaches today where did the summer league come up in your conversations?

BRANDIN PODZIEMSKI: Yeah, oh, I'll definitely be playing. I know me and Trayce will. It's an opportunity for me and him to lead a team and to be the best players out there and to lead other guys who are new coming in or played on our G League squad with us and win. I think it's super critical for Mike and for Steve to see the leadership that me and Trayce can provide. For me, it's an opportunity to show them what I can do with the ball in my hands. Obviously, that sample size was obviously minimal because we had Steph and Chris, but I think it would be a huge opportunity for me.

Q. Was there a point this season where you felt I don't just belong but I can lead, too?

BRANDIN PODZIEMSKI: Yeah, I mean there's always that belief. But like I said in the other question, it was just, you have Steph and you have CP and you don't want to over step as a rookie. You understand what they have accomplished and what they bring to the table. So, I mean, I look back at that Milwaukee game in Milwaukee, Steph and CP didn't play, and to do the things that I did, I think in that game kind of goes to show where I can get to. But at the end of the day you know we have those two guys and they're Hall of Fame guys. So just kind of finding my role as a rookie and trying to fit in where I can fit in was the biggest key for me.

Q. You mentioned you guys were in the play-in, 10 seed, if the roster changes this summer are marginal, do you think you, I mean, you guys can make a big leap?

BRANDIN PODZIEMSKI: Yeah, because I think our young guys will get way better. Obviously everybody's confidence will take a step up. But like I said to your question earlier, just taking that burden off Steph and Draymond and not always having to rely on them. So when teams scout for us they're not just trying to take away Steph and Klay, they have to worry about me, Jonathan, Moses, Trayce. Just knowing that and knowing how much better I can get -- this is the longest off-season I've ever had in my life. Last year was the draft combine, pre-draft, the year before that I was in the transfer portal, and in high school you're playing AAU the whole summer. So to have April all the way to October now there's a lot of room for me to get better and I'm excited to see what I look like come October.

Q. What's the biggest challenge you learned from an 82-game season?

BRANDIN PODZIEMSKI: Biggest challenge I think me and Steph talked about it, just putting everything into perspective, nothing's ever as good or as bad as it seems. Knowing that there's going to be ups and there's going to be downs. You're going to win some, you're going to lose some. But the next game comes quick and there's not many practices in between. So kind of watching your previous games to get better I think was super critical for me. I think throughout the course of the year each and every game I took a step up and if I did take a step back I took two more steps forward. So I feel like the way I finished out the year was pretty well from when I first played against Minnesota or whatever game, New Orleans to yesterday, I think I've improved so much. Like I said, just this year I'm going to be, come October, I think it will be exciting for me.

Q. I think you and Steph's relationship has obviously been talked about, but whether it's a player a coach, et cetera, who is someone maybe behind the scenes that has been a surprise in your development?

BRANDIN PODZIEMSKI: Yeah, I think a lot of our player development staff. Surprisingly, Mike has been a huge piece of it. Obviously, he has connections back to Wisconsin, so just being able to talk to him about stuff. We have a lot of player development guys, Seth Cooper, Chris DeMarco, all guys from Wisconsin, so to have that comfort and them have understanding of kind of where we come from and stuff like that. Having Loon around has been super impactful. He's not a guy that's going to put up huge numbers, but his impact in our locker room is second to none. Just the insight that he provides, the confidence that he gives to our younger guys is something that kind of goes by the wayside because of everything else we have going on, but he's super impactful.

Q. What did you appreciate about being teammates with Klay this season?

BRANDIN PODZIEMSKI: It's amazing just to see a high-level shooter like that. Obviously being a teammate with the two best shooters in the world, in my opinion, was something I'm never going to forget. The way he just kind of goes about his life is pretty funny. Just his love for the water and always inviting me to go out on his boat, and just being a really, a team guy. Obviously, the people just talk about the free agency, the resigning and all that kind of stuff, but he doesn't really kind of let that fall in our hands, he keeps that kind of his own kind of stuff. For me he's been a great teammate. He's always inspired me to do more. When I make a couple shots in the game he always wants me to shoot more. So just hearing that from a Hall of Fame type of guy was pretty special for me.

Q. So did you go on the boat?

BRANDIN PODZIEMSKI: I went on there once. But I didn't get the full experience like Moses and Chris did.

Q. You talked about briefly about summer league with Trayce. I know there's a group of young guys obviously Jonathan, Moses, everybody, but how much of a bond do you feel with Trayce as the same rookie class and the impact you guys had and how much have you guys talked about your potentially expanding role, presumably expanding role in the next couple years?

BRANDIN PODZIEMSKI: I feel like he's a brother to me. I feel like every step of our NBA journey we've been together and we've done it together from Santa Cruz from summer league last year, to being out of the rotation together we ended upstart ago game together against Utah a few weeks ago. But I'm super excited. Like I said, us four young guys are kind of the future. However way you want to look at that. For me and Trayce, just developing that connection, not only on the floor, but off the floor is something that's going to be impactful for years to come.

Q. Are you planning on spending a lot of time back home in Wisconsin this summer or sticking around here?

BRANDIN PODZIEMSKI: A little bit of both. I'll be around here for basketball stuff, getting better, figuring out my body, doing things that will help me. But I'm definitely going to go home, probably take a vacation or two just to relax.

Q. One common thing that came up with you is just your confidence, and even as a rookie being brash and loud in the locker room and in practice. I guess, what did you learn about how your personality fits in the NBA this year?

BRANDIN PODZIEMSKI: Yeah, I think for me I was a little, I would say, nervous or timid coming in. Just because you know what they have done and how they have done things. So for me adding my personality and adding what I kind of bring, I didn't know if that would fit or it wouldn't. I think it did for the best. I think, to the veterans' credit, they allowed me to be who I was and it kind of just flowed. Throughout the year I kind of learned that I was able to have a voice and I was able to voice what I thought and they actually took it into consideration and kind of listened to me on some things, which that in itself kind of gives you a confidence level going into the new year that you bring leadership qualities and you can have a leadership role on this team being so young.