Brandin Podziemski Bio
Brandin Thomas Podziemski is an American professional basketball player for the Golden State Warriors of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Born on February 25, 2003, in Greenfield, Wisconsin, he plays the shooting guard position and has quickly emerged as one of the more promising young players on the Warriors roster. Nicknamed “Podz” and sometimes “Airpodz” by teammates and fans, Podziemski earned recognition during his single season at Santa Clara before being selected in the first round of the 2023 NBA Draft.
Standing 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighing approximately 205 pounds, Podziemski combines a strong frame with a high basketball IQ and a smooth left-handed shooting stroke. He is of Polish descent and has expressed interest in representing the Poland national team, a path being encouraged by fellow NBA player Jeremy Sochan. Since entering the league, he has built a reputation for his rebounding, court vision, and willingness to take on physical defensive assignments.
Early Life and Background
Brandin Thomas Podziemski grew up in Greenfield, Wisconsin, where he developed an early love for sports. He attended Muskego High School as a freshman before transferring to St. John’s Northwestern Military Academy, a private school in Delafield, Wisconsin, that is known for its structured athletic programs. The disciplined environment at the military academy helped shape his work ethic and his approach to basketball, and he also played varsity football as a wide receiver and safety during his junior year.
Beyond basketball, Podziemski was a talented left-handed pitcher in baseball, drawing college-level interest in the sport before ultimately choosing to focus on hoops. His Polish heritage has remained an important part of his identity, and he has explored the possibility of securing Polish citizenship so that he can one day suit up for the Poland national team. These formative years in Wisconsin laid the foundation for the competitive mindset that has defined his professional career.
Path to Basketball
Podziemski’s path to professional basketball accelerated rapidly during his high school years at St. John’s Northwestern Military Academy. As a sophomore, he averaged 22.5 points and 9.3 rebounds per game, earning first-team All-State honors, and he followed that up with a junior season in which he averaged 27.6 points and 9.2 rebounds. As a senior, he posted 35.1 points, ten rebounds, 5.6 assists, and four steals per game, capturing the prestigious Wisconsin Mr. Basketball award in 2021 and the Gatorade Player of the Year for the state.
Rated as a four-star recruit, Podziemski originally committed to Illinois over offers from Kentucky, Miami, Vanderbilt, and Wake Forest. After a limited freshman year with the Fighting Illini, he entered the NCAA transfer portal and landed at Santa Clara, where he was named the West Coast Conference co-Player of the Year, the WCC Newcomer of the Year, and a First-team All-WCC selection in 2022-23. That breakout campaign, in which he averaged roughly 19 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 assists while shooting 43.8 percent from three-point range, cemented his status as an NBA prospect and led him to declare for the 2023 NBA Draft.
Brandin Podziemski Career
Early Career (2023-Present)
The Golden State Warriors selected Brandin Thomas Podziemski with the nineteenth overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, adding a versatile guard to a roster in need of young playmakers. He signed his rookie contract on July 3, 2023, and was immediately integrated into the Warriors’ rotation under head coach Steve Kerr. From the outset, Podziemski was charged with contributing as a connector on offense, a rebounder from the guard position, and a willing defender.
His first professional season quickly produced several notable achievements, including a selection to the 2024 NBA All-Rookie First Team. Podziemski also led the league in total charge fouls drawn and in charge fouls drawn per game, a statistic that reflected his basketball intelligence and his willingness to sacrifice his body for the team. He was later named to the USA Select Team ahead of the Olympic Games, further underscoring his standing among the league’s top young players.
Golden State Warriors Breakthrough (2023-2024)
Podziemski’s rookie season produced a series of historic performances that placed him in rare company. On December 12, 2023, against the Phoenix Suns, he became the first Golden State Warriors rookie since Stephen Curry in 2009-10 to record at least 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists in a single game. Just over a week later, on December 25, 2023, against the Denver Nuggets, he became the first rookie in NBA history to post 9 or more rebounds, 6 or more assists, 5 or more steals, and 3 or more three-pointers in a single contest.
He finished his rookie campaign with a spot on the 2024 NBA All-Rookie First Team and an invitation to the Panini Rising Stars tournament in Indianapolis. Mid-season, an abdominal injury forced him to miss 12 consecutive games, but he returned in January 2024 with 10 points and 4 rebounds in a win over the Chicago Bulls, demonstrating his resilience. By season’s end, he had established himself as a long-term building block for the Warriors.
Golden State Warriors Era (2024-Present)
In his second NBA season, Podziemski continued to expand his role within the Warriors’ system, often serving as a primary ball-handler when Curry rested. On February 5, 2025, he erupted for a career-high 29 points to go with 6 rebounds and 4 assists in a 131-128 loss to the Utah Jazz, signaling his growing offensive confidence. Later that month, on February 23, 2025, he recorded 17 points and a career-high 13 rebounds in a 126-102 win over the Dallas Mavericks, notching his first double-double of the season.
Podziemski also delivered his most significant playoff moment to date on May 14, 2025, scoring a playoff career-high 28 points in a 121-110 closeout loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 5 of the Conference Semifinals. Off the court, he underwent successful left wrist debridement surgery on May 28, 2025, and a follow-up procedure to repair a core muscle injury on June 12, 2025, addressing nagging issues that had hampered him late in the campaign.
Driving Style and Strengths
Podziemski is a left-handed combo guard whose game is built on feel, footwork, and physicality. He excels at crashing the offensive glass from the perimeter, drawing charges on defense, and keeping the offense flowing with quick, accurate passes. His three-point shooting, efficient footwork on catch-and-shoot opportunities, and poise beyond his years make him a natural fit alongside veterans like Stephen Curry and Draymond Green in the Warriors’ motion offense.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his most celebrated milestones, Podziemski’s Christmas Day 2023 performance against the Denver Nuggets stands out as a historic achievement, making him the first rookie in NBA history to combine 9 rebounds, 6 assists, 5 steals, and 3 three-pointers in a single game. His selection to the 2024 NBA All-Rookie First Team, his back-to-back Rising Stars appearances in 2024 and 2025, and his 28-point playoff outburst in 2025 each mark significant steps in his young career.
Brandin Podziemski Career Wins
Across his young professional career, Brandin Thomas Podziemski has accumulated a series of team and individual milestones that highlight his two-way impact. While the Warriors have not captured a championship during his tenure, his individual accolades, including All-Rookie First Team honors, reflect his growing influence on one of the NBA’s most storied franchises.
NBA Highlights
During the 2023-24 season, Podziemski led the league in total charge fouls drawn and charge fouls drawn per game, an unusual stat line for a rookie guard. He earned 2024 NBA All-Rookie First Team honors and was selected for the Rising Stars game in both 2024 and 2025. His first career 20-point, 10-rebound, 5-assist game came against the Phoenix Suns on December 12, 2023, and he went on to record his first double-double of the 2024-25 season against the Dallas Mavericks on February 23, 2025.
Other Wins and Performances
At the collegiate level, Podziemski was a First-team All-WCC selection, the WCC co-Player of the Year, the WCC Newcomer of the Year, and a four-time WCC Player of the Week during the 2022-23 season at Santa Clara. He was also named Wisconsin Mr. Basketball and the Gatorade Wisconsin Boys Basketball Player of the Year in 2021, capping a decorated high school career at St. John’s Northwestern Military Academy.
Brandin Podziemski Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Brandin Thomas Podziemski comes from a close-knit family with Polish roots that have shaped his cultural identity. He has publicly expressed pride in his heritage and is actively pursuing Polish citizenship with the goal of representing the Poland national basketball team. Fellow NBA forward Jeremy Sochan, who is of Polish descent, has been a key figure in encouraging that move.
Personal Life
Off the court, Podziemski is known for his disciplined routine, a habit that traces back to his time at St. John’s Northwestern Military Academy. He is active on social media, where he engages with fans under the handle @brandinpodziem2. Podziemski underwent left wrist debridement surgery on May 28, 2025, and a core muscle repair on June 12, 2025, and has been focused on recovery and offseason conditioning.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season represented a step forward for Brandin Thomas Podziemski in his second year with the Golden State Warriors. He assumed a larger offensive role, highlighted by his career-high 29 points against the Utah Jazz on February 5, 2025, and a 13-rebound double-double against the Dallas Mavericks later that month. His continued growth as a playmaker and rebounder gave the Warriors another reliable option when Stephen Curry rested.
In the playoffs, Podziemski was a bright spot for Golden State, particularly during the Conference Semifinals against the Minnesota Timberwolves. He scored a playoff career-high 28 points in Game 5 on May 14, 2025, demonstrating an ability to elevate his game on the biggest stage. Although the Warriors were eliminated in that contest, his poise and production suggested a rising star capable of handling postseason pressure.
Looking ahead, Podziemski’s 2025 offseason has centered on recovery from left wrist debridement surgery on May 28, 2025, and a follow-up core muscle procedure on June 12, 2025. Once healthy, he is expected to play a central role in the Warriors’ rotation, with teammates and coaches citing his basketball IQ, rebounding, and three-point shooting as cornerstones of the team’s future. His selection to the 2025 Rising Stars game as an injury replacement further underscored his standing within the league’s young core.