Mike Dunleavy Predicts Brandin Podziemski’s Rise as the Warriors’ Next Unstoppable Force—What’s His Secret?

For nearly twenty years, Steph Curry has not just been the Golden State Warriors’ star—he’s been their heartbeat, their emblem, the man who carried the franchise on his back with style and grit. But as every era bends towards change, we have to ask: who’s ready to pick up that mantle when Curry decides to hang up his sneakers? Enter Brandin Podziemski, a young guard whose hunger to become the next face of the franchise is as palpable as the pressure itself. It’s a bold claim, one that’s caught the wary yet intrigued eye of GM Mike Dunleavy, who admits the future is murky but seems genuinely impressed by the kid’s drive and self-belief. With Podziemski stepping into his third NBA season, building on a rookie campaign that earned him All-Rookie honors and a sophomore season marked by solid stats and steady growth, the Warrior brass—and fans—are keeping a close watch. Leadership isn’t just about numbers, after all. It’s about trust, presence, and that intangible spark that signals a player is ready to carry a dynasty forward. For now, though, it’s all about the here and now—striving for the next championship while the question of “who’s next?” simmers in the background. LEARN MORE

Steph Curry has been the face of the Warriors for the better part of two decades, but who’s next in line to carry that burden once the two-time NBA MVP decides to hang it up?

Brandin Podziemski recently stated his desire to earn that prestigious role, displaying a level of ambition that is appreciated by general manager Mike Dunleavy.

Dunleavy wouldn’t make a hard commitment to handing the keys of the franchise over to Podziemski, opting to see how the cards unfold when the time comes, as he explained further during an interview on 95.7 The Game’s “Steiny & Guru” Friday.

“I think we like his ambition overall. That’s part of the reason that makes him good,” Dunleavy told Matt Steinmentz and Daryl Johnson. “He believes in himself, he goes out there and shows it every night. So, on the whole, I like to see that. As far as the future goes, it’s so hard to predict. I think from his standpoint or any of our young players’ standpoint, who knows how good these guys are going to be … we’ll see where the chips fall.

“We love having BP. He has been an integral part of our team the last couple years, as has some of the young guys we drafted in the first round, second round, picked up, undrafted, whatever it may be. We feel good about our young group. But who knows five years from now what any of this is going to look like. So, we just want to focus on this year, putting together the best team we can do and we’ll kind of cross the bridge of everything else as it goes.”

Podziemski voiced his lofty goal during an exclusive interview with The Athletic’s Nick Friedell, detailing how warning that trust goes beyond just his skill on the court.

“When they leave this thing, they got to leave it with somebody,” Podziemski told Friedell. “How can I have their trust? And they can go to [owner] Joe [Lacob] and [general manager] Mike [Dunleavy] and be like, “Hey, we want to leave it with him. He’s going to continue what we’re leaving.

“So, I think about that all time, and I set myself up in that position to have that. And there’s a lot of other things than just skill that you need to be in that position.”

Podziemski is entering his third NBA season after being selected No. 19 overall in the 2023 draft, earning All-Rookie honors after a standout campaign in his first year as a professional.

The 22-year-old guard followed that up with another solid performance in his sophomore season, posting 11.7 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game in 64 appearances.

While Podziemski certainly has displayed the desired traits you’d seek in a leader, his long-term role will be sorted out when the time comes. For now, his, and every member of Golden State’s focus remains putting the Warriors in the best position possible to pursue a championship this season.

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