You ever watch a movie where the side character slowly steals the whole damn show? Starts out with five lines, ends up delivering the speech that makes the theater erupt? Well, Brandin Podziemski isn’t waiting for a rewrite. He’s rewriting the whole script. Right now. In real time. In front of our eyes. And somehow, it’s all clicking at once.

Because what’s happening to Podz this postseason isn’t just a glow-up—it’s a revelation. A 3.5-million-dollar revelation, in fact. Here’s the thing about Brandin: he does not care about your scouting report. He does not care if you think he’s “too slow” or “not athletic enough.” He’s been hearing that since Santa Clara. Doesn’t matter. Because when the lights hit the hardest, Podz hits harder.

Game 4 in the Chase centre was supposed to be a veteran’s game. A cagey, trench-warfare kind of closeout where battle-tested dogs like Draymond Green and Steph Curry drag the team across the finish line. But here comes Podz, with the poise of a guy who’s played 10 years in the league and the irrational confidence of someone who thinks the word “rookie wall” is just media nonsense.

He dropped 26 points like it was nothing. Smooth footwork, fearless attacks, nasty finishes, and dimes sprinkled in like seasoning. He played like a guy who expected to dominate, and that mindset? That’s not taught. That’s born. “I think good and great players want the moment,” Podz said after the game. “They thrive in the moment and don’t back down from it.”

That ain’t just confidence. That’s a resume in one sentence.

Since coming back from injury a few months ago, Podz has quietly (or not-so-quietly if you’ve been paying attention) become a flamethrower. Dude’s been lights out. But now? Now he’s doing it when it matters most. Oh, and while we’re here—he’s making $3,519,960 this season. You know what that makes him?

The 289th highest-paid player in the league. Let that sink in. There are backup backup point guards making more. And yet, here’s Podz playing with house money and looking like a damn stock you wished you bought in November. Next year? He gets a small bump. But the leap to 2026–27? That’s $5.6 million. And then 2027–28? Boom! $8.6 million. That’s the kind of payday teams hesitate on unless they’re sure.

Well, Steve Kerr and Draymond Green just made that decision very easy. Because they’re not just talking about his jumper. They’re not talking about cute sophomore stats. They’re talking about intangibles. That rare “you just get it” factor. “He plays like he’s a 10-year vet,” Kerr said without blinking. “We know he’s at his best as a secondary playmaker. Once Jimmy arrived, everything fell into place for BP.”

Did you catch that? BP is getting sets designed to let him play off the weak side. He’s being used like a star role player, someone you trust to dissect defenses when the play breaks down. That’s chess, not checkers. And Draymond? He doesn’t compliment people unless they’ve earned it. He’s not the “fluff the new guy” type. But even he had to step back and salute. “It’s his heart,” Dray said. “That irrational confidence. He don’t back down from anybody. Smart as hell on both ends of the floor.”

You know who Green’s describing there? Himself. A younger, offensive version of himself. And if Draymond sees it, that’s gospel in Warrior Land.

A Veteran Soul In A Rookie Body

Maybe that’s what makes Podz so intriguing. He talks like a vet, plays like a vet, carries himself like a vet—and still somehow surprises you every night. When asked how he stays calm in these big moments, Podziemski shrugged. “You’ve just got to tell yourself you belong. All the things you put into the game, they collect. You build evidence. So when you’re on this stage, it’s like… I’ve done this before. Just because the lights are brighter doesn’t mean the moment’s different.”

And that right there? That’s the kind of mental wiring that takes second-year players and turns them into postseason killers; that’s how you get trusted by Steve Kerr in crunch time. And that’s how you stay on the floor when Draymond is dealing with five fouls and the team is scrambling. That’s how you don’t just get minutes—you earn them.

Let’s call it what it is: the Warriors aren’t just playing playoff games. They’re making decisions about the future. Who’s worth building around, who’s a cornerstone, who’s noise? And right now? Brandin Podziemski is looking like a lighthouse. He’s ninth on the Warriors’ payroll this year, behind guys who play half the minutes and contribute half as much. But by next year? That’s going to change. Fast.

Because you don’t let a dude like this walk. Not when he’s fearless, fundamentally sharp, emotionally bulletproof, and thriving under Kerr’s orchestration. Not when he’s earning every penny of that deal and then some. These are the Warriors, not the Mavericks.

And not when Draymond Green, the heart of your defense and soul of your locker room, is out here calling him one of those guys you want on your side. So what’s next for Brandin Podz? Doesn’t matter. He’ll be ready. Because Podziemski isn’t waiting for permission to be great. He’s not looking for approval. He’s taking the moment, owning the stage, and casually dropping 26 on playoff defenses like it’s his second nature.

And with the Warriors eyeing their future, they might have just struck gold again. Only this time, it’s not in the draft room—it’s in the fire of playoff battle, forged in confidence, polished by Kerr, and validated by Draymond. Incredible things are happening to Brandin Podziemski. And if you haven’t noticed? That’s on you.