The Golden State Warriors are entering a pivotal 2025-26 NBA season with their legendary 37-year-old point guard Stephen Curry, 35-year-old small-ball center Draymond Green and 36-year-old ex-Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler at the helm.
Golden State’s top-end talent continues to age despite their remaining belief that they can compete for a championship, but their 2023 All-Rookie First Team guard Brandin Podziemski recently established a change of pace by publicly offering to serve as the Warriors’ bridge to the future.
Upon hearing this declaration, Green offered a few positive words to the young combo-guard. However, a portion of Green’s message turned out to be a critical reminder that his detractors will always be waiting to use his own words and aspirations against him.
“To hear (Podziemski) say that, it’s exciting,” Green shared with The Athletic’s Nick Friedell on Monday morning.
“But as a leader, for him, you also understand what that comes with. And so with him I say, be careful.”
“Don’t tell people too much. Because the more you tell people, the more they try to use it against you and tear you down.”
“And like I said, as a leader you want the young fella next to you grinding and wanting to take that. That’s what you want. But talk to us about it. Don’t tell everybody else. Don’t let them use it against you.”
“So he will be that, no question, but it ain’t his time to be that yet.”
At just 22 years old, Podziemski’s maturity is certainly commendable with regard to both his intentions and on-court tendencies.
Heading into his third NBA season, the gritty two-way guard will be expected to take another step forward on the offensive end to relieve some of the pressure that’s saddled with Curry and Butler on a nightly basis. Even still, Podziemski is just as concerned with the future well-being of the organization.
With a few of the Warriors’ staples future Hall of Famers getting ready to call in quits in the near future, it may be easy for a young player like Podziemski to contemplate the future and what life post-Curry will look like.
For the moment, though, Green wants his mind to be in the present and for his focus to remain on helping this current iteration of the Warriors win another NBA title.
In 64 appearances with the Warriors in 2024-25, Podziemski contributed 11.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.1 steals while knocking down 37.2% of his looks from three-point range and placed No. 2 in the NBA with 0.32 charges drawn.
