Brandin Podziemski didn’t do anything flashy after the Warriors took Game 1 in Houston. No chest-pounding, no “I told you so” energy. He just showed up, did the dirty work, and then calmly reminded everyone that Golden State’s not here to play the role people are casting them in. They’re supposed to be the underdogs, right? But if Podziemski’s mindset and performance are any indication, someone forgot to send that memo to the Warriors locker room.
And then there’s Steph. He gave props, sure—name-dropped a few teammates who really stepped up—but he also had a little message baked in. A subtle reminder that while this win was impressive, the job is far from done.
Right after the final buzzer, you could see it in his face—Podz wasn’t rattled, wasn’t overly hyped. Just locked in. When he spoke to the media, he wasn’t trying to build a narrative. He just said what he felt. “We’re the underdogs, and we will be throughout these playoffs… but it’s just basketball at the end of the day.”
That’s the kind of quote that hits harder the more you think about it. Because this wasn’t some wide-eyed rookie soaking in his first playoff moment. Podz is in his second year now, and he looked like someone who’s been here before. He dropped 14 points, grabbed 8 boards, and dished out 5 assists. All in just over 35 minutes.
What stood out wasn’t just the numbers—it was when he made things happen. The threes came at the right time. The rebounds? Snatched right when Houston looked like they were getting second chances. His defense? Sturdy, reliable, and exactly what the Warriors needed to grind out a win on the road. It was one of those performances that won’t lead SportsCenter, but real hoop fans noticed.
Mar 22, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski (2) shoots against the Atlanta Hawks in the third quarter at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
Houston came in with a rep. All season, people couldn’t stop talking about their defense. Ime Udoka had them playing smart, physical basketball. But in Game 1? The Warriors flipped the script. They held the Rockets to just 85 points. Fifteen in the fourth quarter. That’s not just good—it’s suffocating.
And yeah, Brandin Podziemski was in the middle of it all. After the game, he didn’t sugarcoat it. He basically said, “look, if we kept them off the glass more, they probably wouldn’t have cracked 70.” And he meant it.
He also made a point about the team’s adaptability. If the game calls for chaos, Draymond and Stephen will dance. If it needs control, they’ll run it through Jimmy. That kind of flexibility isn’t just tactical—it’s rare. And for Podz to already be that plugged into the game plan shows how much trust he’s earned. “Whatever style we gotta play… that’s what we’re going to do.”
That one sentence sums up why this team, despite all the noise around them, can’t be counted out. They can win ugly. They can win fast. And Podziemski is starting to look like the connector who makes both versions of the Warriors click.
Steph’s subtle shoutout (and a warning)
Now let’s talk Steph. He wasn’t throwing a party after the win. But when he talked, you could hear it—there was pride in his voice when he brought up Moses Moody, Gary Payton II, and Brandin Podziemski. He called them out specifically for their defense at the point of attack. That’s not a throwaway compliment. That’s Steph seeing the groundwork of another playoff run.
But like any great leader, he followed the praise with a bit of pressure. “Can’t assume they’re going to miss open looks if we’re giving them second, third, fourth opportunities.” Game 1 was solid. But this is the playoffs. One slip, one bad rotation, one lazy box out—and that win turns into a gut punch. Steph’s been through enough battles to know that the postseason doesn’t care how well you played last game.
That message wasn’t just for the guys he praised—it was for the whole locker room.
Curry credits Moses Moody, Brandin Podziemski and Gary Payton II for their point-of-attack defense. Notes the importance of defensive rebounding for Golden State: “Can’t assume they’re going to miss open looks if we’re giving them second, third, fourth opportunities.”
— Sam Gordon (@BySamGordon) April 21, 2025
Here’s the truth—Podz isn’t a star. Not yet. But he’s not trying to be. What he is is the kind of player who shows up in moments that matter. The guy who makes the one extra rotation, the pass that leads to the assist, the rebound that kills a run. The guy who lets the stars shine, but makes sure they never feel alone on the court.
He’s learned when to get out of the way and when to take the shot. When to speed it up and when to slow it down. When to let Steph and Draymond cook, and when to toss it to Jimmy and let him go to work. And the best part? He’s doing all of this in just his second year.
The underdog narrative is fun for TV. But Podz isn’t buying into it. He’s already too locked in for that. Brandin might not be the name that sells jerseys just yet, but performances like this are how legacies start. He’s not talking about proving people wrong. He’s just focused on getting the next win. And with Stephen Curry setting the tone and the Warriors looking dialed in, this “underdog” story might just flip into something way more dangerous—one win at a time.
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