Brandin Podziemski’s big role under Steve Kerr started chatter around the NBA, and Gilbert Arenas is leading the charge. Arenas went on his Gil’s Arena podcast and openly questioned how the young guard earned so much power in the organization after the front office let Klay Thompson walk.
“Who is Brandin Podziemski sleeping with, bruh? Man, like Jesus Christ. This man gotta know, he got to know something or know somebody because there’s no way I got rid of Klay for him.”
Former Warriors big man DeMarcus “Boogie” Cousins completely agreed with the sentiment, adding,
“It’s the real question, bro… When I played for the Warriors, I didn’t get that much of a leash. When I was coming off three, four All-Stars, I didn’t get that much of a leash. When you average 14, five, and four last season… he’s not a game-changer. He’s like a role player.”
When the room argued that fans cannot expect Podziemski to duplicate Thompson’s production, Cousins doubled down, highlighting the shooting guard’s 39% shooting from deep in his last year with the Mavericks.
“He took Klay’s spot. Come on, bro. 18 points. Come on, bro. And they can’t play one minute.”
Arenas didn’t stop at taking shots at the guard’s status, breaking down exactly why he thinks the on-court fit is wrong, adding,
“Klay got booed out of Golden State averaging 18 with the same stats. So I’m trying to figure out, like, cuz it’s not like your defense… you don’t play defense… It’s just confusing because the style don’t match.”
Brandin Podziemski steps into a much bigger role following Thompson’s departure to the Dallas Mavericks. The franchise icon left a massive void in the backcourt, but Podziemski showed promise last year by averaging 13.8 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists, proving he can grow with more floor time.
Golden State did draft Michigan forward Yaxel Lendeborg 11th overall this summer, but a rookie can’t carry the load by himself. They need Podziemski’s scoring to take the pressure off Stephen Curry while Steve Kerr and Draymond Green try to make one last run at a title before their championship window closes.
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Golden State’s looming Brandin Podziemski extension
As a member of the 2023 draft class, Brandin Podziemski is officially eligible for a rookie extension, but Golden State hasn’t locked in a long-term deal yet. He is currently playing out his original four-year, $16.2 million rookie contract, which carries a $5.6 million cap hit for the 2026-27 season.
He enters this year with a golden opportunity to prove his worth, as Jimmy Butler’s injury opens up massive minutes in the rotation. Butler remains sidelined while recovering from a torn ACL suffered in January. While his rehab is progressing positively with no setbacks, he is expected to miss the start of the season, with insiders targeting a realistic return to the court around January or February 2027.
Until then, a breakout campaign will put Brandin Podziemski in line for a massive payday before he hits restricted free agency in 2027. It will also give the front office a clear answer on whether he is a permanent piece of the new core or a valuable trade chip to move while his value is sky-high.
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Edited by Sami Haider
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