There are many beliefs surrounding the career trajectory of Brandin Podziemski. Some see him as potentially the next Klay Thompson, while others see him develop into the Warriors’ next great cornerstone.
The 2024-25 season is his second year, but Brandin Podziemski has made a huge leap into the Golden State.
He started 33 of his 68 games, averaging 26.8 minutes per contest. Several statistical improvements have emerged compared to his rookie campaign, including an average of 11.7 and 9.2 points last season.
His steel average increased to 1.1 per game, but his effective field goal percentage jumped to 53.7%. One of the key elements behind this development is that Stephen Curry will serve as his main mentor.
Podziemski has never hesitated to acknowledge the effects of curry on his career trajectory. He mentioned Curry in his major inspiration when he started playing basketball during the time when two MVPs ruled the NBA in Golden State.
“I chose the game late for eighth grade. 8 years ago, nine years ago. It was his prime that went to Steph in 2015. That’s when they won their first championship, I was a Steph fan.
However, Podziemski also honors another former champion who had a major influence on his development during his formative years.
“Obviously my favorite player was Manu Ginobili. I think there are a lot of similarities in our game,” explained Poziemsky.
“You can see a lot of things like European highlights because I’ve always been the best athlete and I know that it’s not really developed like IQ for the game.
Perhaps one thing Podziemski still needs to learn from Ginobili is how he approaches the playoffs, as Podziemski lacks that mentality this season.
This fusion of influences is clearly visible in Podziemski’s court performance. His floater game is inspired by both Curry and Ginobili, but their shared left-handedness contributes to a unique offensive style.
The versatility of Podziemski reflects the multifaceted roles of San Antonio and Ginobili, indicating their ability to handle balls, promote offensively, and score when opportunities arise.
The combination of Curry’s shooting ability and Ginobili’s crafty playmaking helped shape a well-balanced second-year player with a poised for continuous growth, with the Warriors or elsewhere.