SAN FRANCISCO – Brandin Podziemski has been a lightning rod, for both criticism and praise, all season.
As is often the case for 23-year-olds pushed into large roles, Podziemski has been inconsistent. One night, he might score 20 and be a triple-double threat. The next, he bricks free throws and jumpers while grinding the offense to a halt.
And on those off nights, social media and vocal fans around Chase Center often remind him that, at the beginning of the season, he infamously declared that he wanted to be better than Steph Curry.
And that he wanted to be the person Curry and the veterans pass the keys to the franchise to.
And that he could have been the next Shohei Ohtani, had the two-sport athlete gone with baseball instead of hoops.
And …. Well, you get the point.
Podziemski talked a big game early on, and has often seen those statements flung back in his face when he comes up small.
With almost a full season of hindsight, Podziemski took a moment during Friday’s postgame press conference to address that part of his season.
“I see it,” Podziemski said of the criticism, “A lot of the things I said, I probably shouldn’t have said it, because it can be construed a certain way. I understand that with where I’m at, a lot of it is self-in(flicted). All I can do is look forward and give my all every night.”
When asked about Podziemski’s brash statements a few days ago during a radio program on 95.7 The Game, his coach Steve Kerr also characterized the third-year guard’s struggle as a self-inflicted trial.
“I think a lot of the reactions from fans, to be blunt, he laid the expectations out there for himself,” Kerr said. “In the beginning of the year, saying he’s going to be better than Steph. One of the things you learn as a young player is how to handle the media and I think that one was a sign of his confidence, which I like, but there are other ways of showing your confidence than saying you’re going to be better than Steph Curry.”
Podziemski is not Curry, but in the superstar’s absence, he has been a high-level contributor during the team’s three-game winning streak.
Podziemski has scored at least 20 points in each game, and grabbed 10 rebounds and dished out seven assists during the Warriors’ victory over the Nets.
Whether that performance earns him praise or derision, Podziemski said that does not influence how he plays the game.
“I really just try to tune it out,” Podziemski said. “When I’m in between those four lines, I’m not going to think about what someone says about me on the internet.”
