Pod details where his unwavering confidence comes from. This originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area.
Warriors second-year guard Brandin Podziemski is brimming with confidence.
The 21-year-old’s words match his actions, and at times he has gone too far in playfully angering his Golden State teammates.
But as a rookie filling in for Klay Thompson and sharing backcourt duties with Stephen Curry in Steve Kerr’s tough-to-crack starting lineup, you have to be confident. Podziemski further explained where that confidence comes from on 95.7 The Game’s “Willard and Dibs” on Wednesday.
“I think it comes from a lot of different places,” Podziemski said. “One is growing up in a family that values winning. We want to win at everything we do. The other is putting effort into the things that you care about and knowing that there’s a reason for it… [Thirdly,] Basketball is not a predominantly white sport, so half the battle is whether you look good enough for the role, and for me, it’s about showing that I look good enough for the role.
“The combination of these three elements has helped me feel more confident in myself every day.”
Poziemski credits his parents, John and Barbara, and his sister, Gabriella, for raising him in a success-oriented environment, but also cited his path to the NBA and his role as a white player as key factors.
Poziemski’s confidence is as evident in the box score as it is in the locker room. The Santa Clara native is a dynamic figure, averaging 9.2 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 74 games as a rookie. He’ll be hoping to carry that momentum into the 2024-25 NBA season.
In addition to the three reasons he detailed, Podziemski also cited NBA legends, including one of his teammates, as a source of his confidence.
“History always repeats itself and those who put in the effort before themselves tend to succeed, so you just have to go by that motto,” Podziemski said. “A lot of great players are overconfident. Look at Kobe. [Bryant]Michael [Jordan]Even Steph is a super confident person.
“They believe in what they put into the game and they feel like they’re going to get something in return.”
Certainly, all three players are well respected and Podziemski has been subjected to similar platitudes.
Podziemski has big plans for this season, his second in the NBA with Golden State, and the team may need more of his upbeat energy after the Warriors missed the playoffs in 2023-24.
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