The Golden State Warriors are trying to bounce back this season, but an interestingly peculiar moment involving Brandin Podziemski grabbed attention. After head coach Steve Kerr discussed the importance of playing alongside Stephen Curry, the Bay’s young gun gave an unexpectedly candid yet straightforward response: “I don’t really think. I just play.” Podziemski explained his approach, saying, “If I’m open, I shoot. If not, I make a play. I know Steph’s on the court, so if he’s open, I’ll get him the ball.”

Many took his comments and tonality as dismissive toward Kerr’s advice and Curry’s presence. Podz’s “Yeah, I don’t really look too deep into those messages,” comment was the trigger. To clear things up, a few hours later, Brandin made it a point to call the Splash Bro a “legend” and the “GOAT” using the iconic goat emoji on X with a long writeup.

“To clarify and for further context… Steph is Steph and I’ve been very open with my respect for him on and off the court,” he wrote.

“He’s a legend and a 🐐 for a reason. On the court you have to be cautious against over thinking every possession. You have to trust your work, do what the coaches want you to do, and make a good IQ play. At times that’s a pass, taking shot, or even making a good screen to free up a teammate,” Podziemski continued.

“So you just play and work to make good decisions consistently. A lot of times that will end up being passing the ball to a wide open Steph and/or teammate when the opportunity is there and just doing whatever it takes to help the team,” the youngster concluded.

Steve Kerr emphasized the Warriors’ style of play: “When you have Steph Curry, you pass the ball… All hell breaks loose.” This came after the team’s much-needed win over the Timberwolves, breaking a tough losing streak ahead of Monday’s game against Indiana.

Dub Nation backs Brandin Podziemski, calls him the future of the franchise

Since his X post, fans have immediately come in support of Podz. One wrote, “Don’t listen to all the hate Podz. Don’t battle against the online critics because you won’t win. Lock in bruh. You played a great game last night you’re capable of doing great things. Let your game do the talking.”

Despite being a second-year star, he’s shown flashes of poise and talent that have caught the attention of both fans and teammates. His confident response to Steve Kerr’s comments highlights a player who’s focused on instinct and trusts in his abilities, which is crucial for a young athlete finding his footing in the league. His next target should ideally be to break free from the sophomore slump. He’s averaging a mere 8.4 points per game while shooting only 27.1% from deep, which is really not ideal.

Another fan wrote, “You’re doing well, don’t let the toxic “fans” get to you. They don’t need an explanation. Just lock in. Ignore the noise”. The pressure on Brandin Podziemski is enormous, given the Warriors’ championship aspirations and his role in their future. But what’s crucial is that the young gun stays focused on his game rather than getting caught up in the noise of online critics.

The Warriors brought him in for his potential, and if he stays grounded and focused, his growth will prove all the doubters wrong.

One of the users dropped some solid advice for the young star. “Social media ain’t worth the headache for 99.9%…just keep grinding, let work and execution speak for itself,” they wrote. Social media has a way of amplifying both praise and criticism, often distorting a player’s focus and mental approach. While players like Kevin Durant are known for ‘keeping receipts’ and mirroring the criticism back at the media and fanbase, it’s important to judge their process of doing so and not the cream around the cake. The real validation comes from on-court performance and the trust his teammates and coaches have in him. Period.

“You’re the future Brandin. Never gon’ hate on you, king” tweeted a netizen. It’s clear that people see him as more than just a player; they see him as someone who has the tools to become a key piece of the Warriors’ future. As a young player, it’s easy to get caught up in the ups and downs of a season or the noise from critics.

But this type of encouragement reminds him that there’s a foundation of belief behind him. Fans recognize his talent, his work ethic, and the potential he has to grow into a major contributor to the Warriors.

Fans understand that success doesn’t happen overnight. The reaction, “I have faith that you’ll be an all-time great one day Podz, keep hooping, keep doing you and you’ll get better day by day. Much love” is a powerful vote of confidence for Brandin Podziemski.

The youngster’s journey is still in its early stages, but the belief that he can one day be an all-time great speaks to his skill set, his work ethic, and his mindset. He can develop into a crucial player for the Warriors. The key is to keep grinding, ignore the distractions, and trust that the work will pay off. Hopefully, Podz survives the upcoming trade waves, for which the Warriors have reportedly made themselves open to trading parts of their younger core to win a final championship in the Bay’s Steph Curry era.