Scott Strazzante/S.F. Chronicle
Carlos Avila Gonzalez/S.F. Chronicle
Scott Strazzante/S.F. Chronicle
Scott Strazzante/S.F. Chronicle
Scott Strazzante/S.F. Chronicle
Even at age 22, in only his second season with the Golden State Warriors, Brandin Podziemski projects boundless self-confidence — in the way he carries himself, the way he lets fly from deep, the way he takes charges.
But thinking you can produce on the postseason stage and actually doing it are two different matters. So Podziemski proved something to himself Monday night, when his 26 points helped propel the Warriors to a 109-106 victory over Houston in Game 4 of their first-round playoff series.
After logging 40 minutes, hitting six 3-point shots and playing with striking poise, Podziemski stood in a hallway at Chase Center and articulated the deeper significance of his performance.
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“It just kind of validated my belief I can do it, and I belong,” Podziemski told the Chronicle. “For us young guys, it’s about living up to the moment and wanting to be in the moment — taking those kinds of shots and not shying away.
“Anybody can make shots in the first quarter, but can you do things when times are tough, and in the fourth quarter when it matters a lot more? That’s what I want to be. I think I’m capable of that, and I think I showed it tonight.”
Podziemski and the Warriors seized a 3-1 series lead, shoving the Rockets to the brink of elimination. NBA teams leading 3-1 in a best-of-seven series are 275-13, for a winning percentage of .955. In the first round, they’re 82-3 (.965).
Golden State knows about the exceptions to this rule, of course. The Warriors memorably came back from a 3-1 deficit in the 2016 Western Conference finals (think Game 6 Klay), and then just as memorably squandered a 3-1 lead in the ‘16 NBA Finals (think Draymond Green’s suspension).
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For now, the Warriors are grateful Podziemski stepped up to help put them in this position once again. This had been a bumpy series for him before Monday night: strong Game 1, weakened by food poisoning in Game 2, modest impact in Game 3.
Then he took advantage of Houston’s defensive strategy in Game 4, with the Rockets bottling up Stephen Curry. Curry managed just 13 shots from the field and finished with 17 points, so the Warriors needed others to pump life into their offense — and Jimmy Butler (27 points) and Podziemski answered the call.
Podziemski gave credit to director of basketball operations Chuck Hayes for helping him navigate playoff pressure. Podziemski is notoriously hard on himself, as Green explained at length earlier this season, but Hayes — a San Leandro native who spent 11 years in the league, mostly with Houston — has become a trusted resource.
“He helps me look at things from a broad perspective, and not just game-to-game,” Podziemski said. “Chuck has been on teams, he’s coached, he’s been in the front office — he knows how things work. So I’m thankful for what he sees in me, and also for going out of his way to help me.”
Podziemski labored through the first half of the season, a comedown after earning first-team All-Rookie honors in 2023-24. His outside shot abandoned him, generating chatter the Warriors might consider including him in a trade-deadline deal.
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But he showed signs of his rookie form after returning from an injury in late January, including a 29-point outburst in Utah on Feb. 6 — the night of the Butler trade. Butler’s entrance into the lineup then unlocked Podziemski even more, sparking a spirited final two months of the regular season.
Podziemski acknowledged his sluggish start prompted him to wonder when he would find his groove.
“During those times, you question it: ‘Why isn’t this happening? I’ve done all this work in the summer,’” he said. “But it’s just sticking with it. I think I was in the gym more than ever in October-November-December.”
Podziemski wasted little time making an impact Monday night. He scored eight points in the first four-plus minutes, as the Warriors zoomed out to an early 16-4 lead.
More important, he offered a steadying presence in the fourth quarter, as the outcome twisted in doubt. Head coach Steve Kerr clearly trusted Podziemski — he and Butler each played all 12 minutes of the fourth quarter.
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“Brandin is big-time,” Kerr said. “He’s a second-year player, but he plays like a 10th-year guy. He’s got so much poise and confidence.”
One example: Early in the fourth quarter, Podziemski dribbled furiously, couldn’t shake his defender and still made a side-step 3-pointer right in front of his team’s bench. That offered a stark contrast to his typical catch-and-shoot jumper.
Dare we say, this one was almost Curry-like.
He chuckled at the suggestion, noting how much he watches Curry in practice, warm-ups and games. But even taking the shot, in the fourth quarter of a tight playoff game, speaks to Podziemski’s fearlessness.
“The skill is there, but it’s his heart,” Green said of his young teammate. “He puts in the work, but he has irrational confidence. It’s one of those things I actually wish I had. But he just has the ultimate belief in himself and his abilities.”
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That belief might have wavered at times this season, but Podziemski found his mojo in the season’s second half. And, as he showed Monday night, he’s carrying it into the playoffs.
His big night came in front of several family members visiting from his native Wisconsin, including his dad, mom and stepdad. John Podziemski traced his son’s perseverance this season to his background at St. John’s Northwestern Military Academy in suburban Milwaukee.
“Coming from a military high school, he was taught you never quit,” John Podziemski wrote in a text message late Monday night. “If you go back to his draft day, we said he will run through a wall for his teammates and this organization.”
The Warriors just hope he helps them race into the second round.
