# Brandin Podziemski

Brandin Thomas Podziemski (/pəˈdʒɛmski/ pə-JEM-skee; born February 25, 2003) is an American professional basketball player for the Golden State Warriors of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Nicknamed "Podz" and "The Pythagorean Theorem", he played college basketball for the Illinois Fighting Illini and the Santa Clara Broncos.

## Early life and high school career

Podziemski grew up in Greenfield, Wisconsin and attended St. John's Northwestern Military Academy. He was named first-team All-State after averaging 22.5 points and 9.3 rebounds per game as a sophomore with St. John's Northwestern Military Academy after not playing on the varsity team as a freshman at Muskego High School. Podziemski averaged 27.6 points and 9.2 rebounds and repeated as a first-team All-State selection during his junior season. He was named Wisconsin Mr. Basketball as a senior after averaging 35.1 points, ten rebounds, 5.6 assists, and four steals per game. Podziemski was also the boys basketball Gatorade Player of the Year for Wisconsin in 2021. Podziemski was rated a four-star recruit and committed to playing college basketball for Illinois over offers from Kentucky, Miami (FL), Vanderbilt, and Wake Forest.
Podziemski was a left-handed pitcher growing up with opportunities to pursue baseball after high school. He played varsity football his junior year at St. John's Northwestern Academies as a wide receiver and safety.

## College career

Podziemski began his college basketball career with the Illinois Fighting Illini. He played in 16 games as a freshman, all off the bench, and averaged 1.4 points per game. After the end of the season, Podziemski entered the NCAA transfer portal.
Podziemski ultimately transferred to Santa Clara. He entered his first season with the Broncos as the team's starting shooting guard. After scoring only 22 points during his entire season at Illinois, Podziemski scored 30 points with 9 rebounds and 5 steals in Santa Clara's season opener against Eastern Washington as the Broncos won 84–72. He scored 34 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in the following game against Georgia Southern. NABC First Team, USBWA All-District, and All-WCC First Team. Podziemski also earned WCC Player of the Week honors a SCU record four times, his 636 points was the fourth most in a season in program history, and his SCU three-point percentage was fourth-best in SCU program history. Podziemski was one of only three NCAA Division 1 men's basketball players to average 19, 8, and 3 in the 2022–23 season and finished 5th in the nation in three-point field goal percentage (43.8%).
Podziemski declared for the 2023 NBA draft while maintaining his eligibility. After taking part in the NBA Draft Combine and receiving positive feedback, he decided to remain in the draft.

## Professional career

The Golden State Warriors selected Podziemski with the nineteenth overall pick in the 2023 NBA draft and on July 3, 2023, signed him to a contract.
On December 12, 2023, against the Phoenix Suns, Podziemski became the first Golden State Warriors rookie to have 20+ points, 10+ rebounds (11), and 5 or more assists in a single game since two-time NBA MVP Stephen Curry did so in the 2009–10 season. On December 16, 2023, Podziemski put up 19 points, five rebounds, five assists, three steals, and a career-high four three-pointers made in a 124–120 win over the Brooklyn Nets. On December 25, 2023, against the Denver Nuggets, Podziemski became the first rookie in NBA history to have 9+ rebounds, 6+ assists, 5+ steals, and 3+ three-pointers in a single game. (That evening, he had 13 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists, and 5 steals on 57/75/100 splits.) On January 14, 2024, in a game against the Milwaukee Bucks, he scored 23 points and recorded 10 rebounds, three assists, and two steals. On February 16, 2024, Podziemski played in the Panini Rising Stars tournament in Indianapolis for Team Pau.
On May 21, 2024, Podziemski was announced on the NBA all-rookie first team. Before the Olympic Games, he was drafted to the USA Select Team, alongside his teammate, Trayce Jackson-Davis.
During Podziemski's rookie season, he led the National Basketball Association in total charge fouls drawn, and charge fouls drawn per game.
During the Warriors' 109-105 win over the Phoenix Suns, Podziemski suffered an abdominal injury in the second quarter, concurrently missing 12 straight games. He returned on January 23rd, recording 10 points and 4 rebounds in a blowout win against the Chicago Bulls.
On February 5, 2025, Podziemski scored a career-high 29 points, along with 6 rebounds and 4 assists in a 131-128 loss to the Utah Jazz.
On February 8, 2025, the NBA announced that Podziemski will play in their Rising Stars game as an injury replacement player for Cason Wallace.
On February 23, 2025, Podziemski recorded 17 points along with a career-high 13 rebounds in a 126-102 win over the Dallas Mavericks, notching his first double-double of the season.

## Career statistics
### NBA
#### Regular season

| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| 2023–24 | Golden State | 74 | 28 | 26.6 | .454 | .385 | .633 | 5.8 | 3.7 | .8 | .2 | 9.2 |
| Career | Career | 74 | 28 | 26.6 | .454 | .385 | .633 | 5.8 | 3.7 | .8 | .2 | 9.2 |

#### Play-in

| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| 2024 | Golden State | 1 | 0 | 24.1 | .667 | .500 | — | 8.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | .0 | 5.0 |
| Career | Career | 1 | 0 | 24.1 | .667 | .500 | — | 8.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | .0 | 5.0 |

### College

| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| 2021–22 | Illinois | 16 | 0 | 4.3 | .421 | .231 | .750 | .9 | .3 | .1 | .0 | 1.4 |
| 2022–23 | Santa Clara | 32 | 32 | 36.0 | .483 | .438 | .771 | 8.8 | 3.7 | 1.8 | .5 | 19.9 |
| Career | Career | 48 | 32 | 25.4 | .480 | .424 | .770 | 6.1 | 2.5 | 1.2 | .3 | 13.7 |

## Personal life

Podziemski is of Polish descent and has expressed interest in obtaining Polish citizenship in order to play for the Poland men's national basketball team.