Draymond Green professes ‘faith’ in Brandin Podziemski’s future

SAN FRANCISCO– Confidence has always been one of the The forces of Brandin Podziemski. That’s how he’s transformed since the 19th pick in the 2023 NBA Draft an important part of the Golden State Warriors in the twilight of their dynastic run — a player who has made himself into someone many see as a bridge to the Dubs’ future when Stephen Curry and Draymond Green call it a career.

This is something that Podziemski himself is strive foras he told Nick Friedel of the Athletic.

“When they leave this thing, they have to leave it to somebody,” Podziemski said, “How can I have their trust? And they can go to (owner) Joe (Lacob) and (general manager) Mike (Dunleavy) and say, ‘Hey, we want to leave it to him. He’s going to carry on what we’re leaving.'”

“So I think about that all the time and I’ve put myself in that position to have that. And there’s a lot of things other than skill that you need to be in that position.”

Whether Podziemski is capable of rising to the level of Curry and Green, the two colossal pillars of a team that won four titles, remains to be seen.

In two seasons with the Warriors, the 22-year-old combo guard averaged 10.4 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists in 138 games during the regular season. He has an all-rookie first team to his name and also earned a spot on Team USA’s select team in 2024. That’s encouraging, but none of it screams future franchise star. That’s why a large part of the Warriors’ success depends on him entering his third season.

For Green, the future Hall of Famer believes Podziemski can carry the torch. But he also knows how heavy that responsibility can be.

After practice Sunday morning, a reporter asked Green about Podziemski’s desire to be the guy to continue the Warriors’ winning ways. Green noted that he likes Podziemski’s confidence and appreciates the respect he has for veterans. But while Green expressed his belief in Podziemski, he also believed a few words of wisdom for the young guard.

“To hear BP say that, it’s exciting, but as a leader for him, you also understand what’s coming, you know. And so with him, I say, ‘Be careful,'” Green said.

“Don’t tell people too much, because the more you tell people, the more they use it against you and try to bring you down, you know. So I think you know, you can look at the trajectory of this thing and where it’s all going, and we all believe he’s going to be one of the guys to take the torch and run with it, but be careful.”

Green explained how the young guys on the Warriors don’t get “crushed” by the media whenever things go wrong. That’s a responsibility that falls on the veterans, the leaders. Green described that aspect as a “heavy weight” that Podziemski doesn’t have to go through right now because it raises expectations in a situation where he doesn’t have the opportunity to meet them.

“I don’t want him to jump into it and let people use it against him,” Green said. “Then people start trying to speed up your clock and (speed up) what you’re supposed to be. And I’d hate for that to happen to him. Because if they try to speed up your clock and you don’t really get a chance to do what they’re trying to speed you up, then that’s an unfair shot, right?”

Draymond Green had a long answer to Brandin Podziemski’s desire to lead the team when he and Steph Curry retire.

“With him I say ‘Be careful’ The more you tell people, the more they use against you… We believe he will be one of the guys to take the torch…” pic.twitter.com/0ELbcVKnGu

— Kenzo Fukuda (@kenzofuku) October 19, 2025

Greene believes Podziemski will let him “run wild”

Green wants to shield Podziemski from outside noise. It’s not that he doesn’t believe in his potential. It’s about protecting him from ridicule until he’s given a chance to rise to the occasion. On a team with Curry, Green and Jimmy Butler, the Warriors aren’t looking for Podziemski to go 1-on-1 in isolation.

“The offense is built a certain way. You get certain opportunities, and this offense wasn’t built for him to be. Now, this offense is built for him to be aggressive, but it’s not built for him to take over. And if you’re in a spot where it’s not built for you to take over, and then people start trying to force it, you’re screwed.”

Later, Green talked about how to harness and balance a young player like Podziemski’s confidence.

“It’s a slippery slope. You don’t rein it in too much – (it can) change the guy. So you just let them run wild. And then when they screw it up, you call them, and you try to help them, but let them run wild.”

Green’s philosophy runs parallel to that of head coach Steve Kerr. Kerr has often talked about how the fire and passion with which Green plays is what makes him special. Take those things away, and it’s not the same player.

“Trying to change confidence, you can’t give someone confidence,” Green continued. “If you take it away, do you just give it back? No, you can’t just give it back. That’s why I’d rather let his confidence go through the roof and go out into the world. And then if you need to help bring it back, that’s what you do. You build a relationship so that you have the respect to re-rank him in somebody… I agree with people who have trust like you should have trust. You should have trust.