GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS MEDIA CONFERENCE

September 28, 2026

Brandin Podziemski

Media Conference

Q. Brandin, how does it feel to be back?

BRANDIN PODZIEMSKI: It feels good. Excited to start another season. It will be a good start in Hawaii, so I'm excited.

Q. Are you at all kind of thinking about the contract stuff at all entering training camp?

BRANDIN PODZIEMSKI: No, I don't let that interfere with our team dynamic. I know what they want from me is just to be the best version of myself I can be, and the contract stuff, my agent and Mike and them will handle.

Q. What does the best version of yourself look like?

BRANDIN PODZIEMSKI: Just being there every day, being a leader both through words and action, helping bridge that gap from the first and second-year guys from the older guys to the new guys. That's kind of for me, yeah.

Q. Towards the end of the year you were able to really handle the ball and get more opportunities. How do you balance that amount of responsibility you got last year with this year, the guys are healthy again, maybe you have a different role? How do you balance that?

BRANDIN PODZIEMSKI: I just keep doing the same things. When I met with Steve after the year, he kind of just said them last six weeks of the season, whatever you did just kept coming with that same mentality next year and do those things. That's what I'm going to do.

Q. New haircut, what's the story behind that?

BRANDIN PODZIEMSKI: Yeah, I went to Spain July. It was really hot. My head just felt on fire all the time. It's just good for a fresh start, and we'll see on media day if we're going to keep it or cut it again, and we're just going to ride it out and keep it.

Q. Podz, again on the contract, Mike was saying he hopes to get something done obviously. Are you hoping too to get something done before October deadline?

BRANDIN PODZIEMSKI: Yeah, I'm pretty sure he said all the right things, and I'm in agreement with it. Obviously it's two sides to everything, so just if we can get something done, that would be great.

Q. If you aren't able to get something done on the contract, how can you be confident that it won't affect your play? Like even, you know, players deal with that stuff a lot, but it can be tough for a lot of different players.

BRANDIN PODZIEMSKI: Yeah, for me, I've never played this game for the dollar. It's always been because it's a passion of mine, it's something I love to do.

So with those type of things, they don't really influence how I think or play. Given the day, I just try to go out there and do anything in my power to help the team win. So I never get caught up thinking that, you know, oh, it's a contract possibility this, that. I don't. When it's supposed to happen, it's going to happen, and I'm a firm believer with that.

Q. You always hear guys say as they progress in their NBA careers that every summer they work on something, and sometimes it's one thing, and sometimes it's a couple of things. How was this summer for you different from maybe the last summer and the summer before that in terms of what you wanted to try and focus on?

BRANDIN PODZIEMSKI: Are you asking from a basketball perspective or --

Q. Yeah, that first.

BRANDIN PODZIEMSKI: Okay. Basketball, I think hearing Steve and Mike talk about how I finished the year and how they want me to have that mentality, within those given games what are some of the things that I could improve on? Having the first or second best guy every night guard me with Steph out, I'm probably going to get much of the same to start the year. How do I improve in the minute areas? How do I get easier shots up? All those type of things. How do I draw falls more, all those little things I think were a focus for me basketball-wise.

Q. How was it different off the court?

BRANDIN PODZIEMSKI: I think I just learned the value of relationships, and understanding a person off the court translates on the floor much better than it does in the reverse way. So just learning my teammates, having genuine conversations, being present with them as a leader I've seen Steph and Dray kind of do it two separate ways, and for me I'm just going to try to do my own way. But, yeah, I think the importance of relationships throughout the organization is important.

Q. We heard earlier today that Frank Vogel considers you a rim protector.

BRANDIN PODZIEMSKI: Oh, wow.

Q. Because of your ability to draw charges. When you hear that, what crosses your mind? How do you look at that?

BRANDIN PODZIEMSKI: It makes me feel like I'm not a 6'4" short, white guy in the NBA. That's how it make me feel.

No, I think Frank, the things he's going to bring, the intensity, his scheme. The thing I enjoy most about Frank from the short time I've known him is he's really receptive to new information, understanding and hearing what players think. Whether it's me, whether it's Dray, whether it's even Yaxel, just being receptive to new information.

He always has a reason why he does things, and it's not, I'm just going to tell you what to do and how to do it. It's why I'm doing it and what's my thought behind it. I think for me being a visual learner and hearing the why behind things helps me process things at a higher level.

Q. Towards the end of last season you kind of talked a little bit more about, like, some of the social media stuff and kind of dealing with all of that. I was just wondering how are you processing all that type of stuff going into this year?

BRANDIN PODZIEMSKI: I'm not really focused on it. I gave my few quotes last year that obviously made people think a certain way, but this year for me it's just going to be about hoops and trying to win games, especially with Jimmy and Mo out to start the year. So that's kind of where my head is with that stuff.

Q. When you talk about building relationships with your teammates and how Steph has one approach to it and Draymond might have another, and you're going to have your own, how would you describe your own approach with strengthening relationships?

BRANDIN PODZIEMSKI: Yeah, I think Steph obviously going to Moses's camp this summer, Jimmy obviously hosting us in San Diego. Seeing those things and what makes guys around you happy, that's what leaders do. The best leaders are able to serve for their teammates, but also get the most out of them.

So for me, it's finding that balance of how do I do that, and I think this year will be another step forward for me in my ability to do that.

Q. Brandin, a question for the French media about your roommate here in this very building. The Valkyries, how many games have you attended since last year, and how has it been to see them growing so fast and so good?

BRANDIN PODZIEMSKI: Yeah, I've attended a good amount, but it's special. You know, to see the fans and how different they are from our team to their team and how much passion and joy they bring, I think it's really cool and special to see Natalie, Ohemaa, Jess, and Joe have done a great job of assembling a team that is so unselfish, especially coming from all expansion players. Players that didn't necessarily get a fair shot in their previous spot and coming together and seeing the things they've done in just two years is incredible.

Q. What do you think they can do this season?

BRANDIN PODZIEMSKI: I mean, it's really up to them. Obviously the playoffs are really hard. They still got to beat Dallas one more time, and then the Aces will probably play them next round. It will be tough, but I think when you hang your hat on defense, a lot can happen for you.

Q. Last question about one particular player in the Valkyries that you even wore her jersey, Janelle Salaün. What do you think of her?

BRANDIN PODZIEMSKI: I think she's special. I compare her a lot to Moses. I think she just won Sixth Player of the Year they said at the game. But she just kind of just, like, lets it fly. That's kind of her mentality and I respect it. She plays hard, comes with a lot of energy.

So, yeah, I have a lot of respect for that.

Q. As a short 6'4" guy, as you said, 6'4" white guy, what do you think of Yaxel's size and the presence he sort of brings to this team?

BRANDIN PODZIEMSKI: Yeah, I think it's going to be a beautiful thing, whether he plays the three, the four, whatever he ends up playing. I think there's going to be a lot of mismatches for him, and I think right now at least in San Diego I was really just trying to emphasize how easy it can be for him, and he doesn't need to make the game hard for himself at all.

So I think it's going to be a good combination, especially defensively, versatility, and that's something I'm looking forward to playing with.

Q. What advice do you have for Yaxel about navigating a rookie season, playing for a veteran team that's constantly in the news and very passionate fan base?

BRANDIN PODZIEMSKI: Some are going to love you. Some are going to hate you. Everybody is going to have their opinion on you. It all comes down to how you show up every day, how you are with your teammates through good times, through bad times, both individually and as a team.

But what I've learned from the vets and what they respect most is how consistent you can be day in and day out, regardless of result.

Q. Just curious for you, going back to, again, the comments you made this or that, social media. When you say it's just about ball, you're a verbally confident guy. Do you just say I'm going to -- do you not talk as much with that? Do you kind of pull back a little bit from being outspoken? What does it look like for you to just kind of focus on ball?

BRANDIN PODZIEMSKI: Yeah, I think for me, like I said before, I've said what I've said. You know, I believe those things wholeheartedly, but it's just because of the confident nature I come from. For me, I guess saying I'm going to focus on ball just kind of means I'm going to let the play do the talking.

People are going to have words good or bad regardless of if I say anything or not. So it's better if I don't say anything and just let my play do the talking.

Q. I know you spent a lot of time in the offseason kind of digesting offensively what worked for you last year and this or that. When you look at just even shot distribution, trends, this or that, what do you feel like worked really well for you last year, in the last couple of months that even as maybe this year opportunities kind of naturally limits with guys flowing back on the roster, where are the spots you feel like you can thrive and improve upon?

BRANDIN PODZIEMSKI: Yeah, I think three things I really focused on the last six weeks of the season. More drives to the basket a game. When you do that, you get fouled more. So I had shot, you know, five, six free-throws a game during that stretch.

Then shooting more threes per game, that's a big emphasis this offseason especially and just in different variety. I mean, you look at any young player, the jumps that they've may have been because of three-point volume and drive-to-the-basket volume. Obviously the closer you can get, the higher percentage you should shoot. Plus, the ability to get fouled.

The best scorers in the world shoot a lot of free-throws.

Q. You know, you are one of the leaders in taking charge and things of that nature. Somehow you found a way to play all 82 games last year. What's your secret, if any, to your availability?

BRANDIN PODZIEMSKI: I mean, the cliche answer would be just taking care of your body. I'm a very curious person, and for me, especially this offseason, I just really wanted to look at, like, who are some guys that play at a high level, sustained it over a long period of time. So for me, learning some new things. I'm not going to say names, but learning some things from players not on this team that are very successful and are able to do it at a high level, learning different habits, routines, things they do with their bodies that allow them to do those things.

For me, do I want to play all 82 this year? Absolutely. But I just want to be out there as much as I can for the team.

Q. Is that a badge of honor for you to play all 82?

BRANDIN PODZIEMSKI: Absolutely. Coming into the league I wanted to do that at least one time. My first two years I wasn't able to do it, so being able to do it last year and just being the steady guy that Steve knows that I'll be there to play, I think it's a badge of honor.