Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski is a key member of one of the NBA’s top teams.

Although the Warriors missed the playoffs last season, they’re back with a vengeance during the first month of the 2024-25 season. Golden State has the second-best record in the Western Conference at 10-2 and look like one of the best teams in the NBA, led by their new-look 12-man rotation.

Podziemski is currently leading the bench unit, which is on a historic pace for points per game (58.0). The NBA record for team bench points per game is 53.2 points by the 2018-19 Los Angeles Clippers.

The second-year guard is averaging the fourth-most minutes per game of any Warriors player (25.7 minutes) while averaging 8.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game.

Although he’s struggling with his efficiency this season — 39.6% from the field and 20.0% from beyond the arc — Podziemski believes Steve Kerr’s 12-man rotation strategy is actually “fun” to be a part of and not detrimental when it comes to getting into a rhythm for a player.

“I don’t think so, it’s fun to be a part of,” says Podziemski in a one-on-one interview when asked if the rotation hurts a player’s rhythm. “I think those people that would say it’s hard to get into a rhythm, I think their mind is offense-based, if that’s what they’re going to say. I think if you just go out there and compete as hard as you can on both sides of the ball, you give it your all, you’re going to find your rhythm.”

The 21-year-old guard continues to explains why it’s beneficial to have a 12-man rotation, citing that it wears the opposing team down with having that many bodies thrown at them. Thirteen Warriors players have averaged at least 11.8 minutes per game this season and not a single one is averaging at least 29.0 minutes per game.

“People are going to have more minutes than others, which is logical, and how it works,” says Podziemski. “When it’s your time to go out there and your number is called, just give everything you have for that amount of time and then over time, collectively, you wear the other team down.”

Podziemski was the Warriors’ first-round draft pick during the 2023 NBA Draft, but it wasn’t as if he entered with ridiculously high expectations. The 6-foot-4 guard was the 19th overall pick in the draft and entered as a clear member off of the bench with Steph Curry and Klay Thompson — the Splash Brothers — entrenched as the starting guard duo.

However, he emerged as one of the top rookies in the NBA, posting averages of 9.2 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game while starting 28 of his 74 games. He also turned in solid efficiency, converting on 45.4% of his attempts and 38.5% of his shots from beyond the arc.

That solid rookie campaign resulted in a spot on the NBA All-Rookie First Team while finishing fifth in Rookie of the Year voting.

He cites his “maturity” as a leader as the biggest difference between the player that he is now compared to his rookie season.

“I think my maturity,” Podziemski says of his biggest growth from his second season compared to his rookie year. “I think as a leader, being asked to do more, but not pressing so much to show you know what I can be. The numbers from a scoring perspective, a shooting perspective, aren’t obviously where I wanted it to be, but it’s something that I know I put a lot of time into it and I can’t necessarily control if it goes in or doesn’t.”

“But from a maturity perspective of being a leader, being asked to lead the second unit, it’s a step that not a lot of 21-year-olds in the league are making — especially on winning teams,” Podziemski continues to say. “For me, I just take pride in being a really good point guard for that second group, taking pride in leading the bench group. We’re scoring the most points in history in terms of bench points per game right now. I take a lot of pride in that. It just shows our success collectively as a bench.”

Podziemski stresses that his objective is to remain concentrated on the team goals above his individual objectives.

“It’s always been our team goals are first,” says Podzkiemski. “You have your individual goals, for me, it’s taking another leap forward. What I did last year was cool, that’s all behind me now and it’s about starting over my second year, being better than I was last year, showing the front office, everybody, the media that I am improving. I’m not just staying the same, because I know how much I put into it during the summer.

Podziemski finishes his answer by once again re-iterating how important it is to win.

“Above all, just win,” says the second-year guard. “I think winning clears a lot of air, it helps your case and a lot of things, whether that becomes awards, accolades, contracts, whatever that is. If you’re a winner, people value that across the league. People who win, play hard, that’s more valued than just plain-out skill.”

The 21-year-old is speaking on behalf of his partnership with Invisalign — aligners that straighten out your teeth — something that his teammate, Kevon Looney, helped him become a part of.

“It’s been great, my teammate, Kevon Looney, kind of was the one who introduced me to this,” says Podziemski of Looney. “He’s been with them for awhile now and it’s been great having a vet that’s kind of done it before you. Doing it and just following suit. Like I said, it’s been great.”

Podziemski will keep active on social media with his progress using Invisalign, saying that its improved his “smile” and confidence after being them for the past 10 weeks.

“It’s improved my smile, my confidence, every which way you want to look at it,” says Podziemski. “It’s made me better. Couldn’t be more appreciative.”