Brandin Podziemski

Brandin "Podz" Podziemski (born February 25, 2003) is an American professional basketball player for the Golden State Warriors of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Illinois Fighting Illini before transferring to the Santa Clara Broncos.

Early life and high school
Podziemski grew up in Greenfield, Wisconsin and attended St. John's Northwestern Military Academy. He was named first team All-State after averaging 22.5 points and 9.3 rebounds per game as a sophomore with St. John's Northwestern Military Academy after not playing on the varsity team as a freshman at Muskego High School. Podziemski averaged 27.6 points and 9.2 rebounds and repeated as a first team All-State selection during his junior season. He was named Wisconsin Mr. Basketball as a senior after averaging 35.1 points, 10.0 rebounds, 5.6 assists, and 4.0 steals per game. Podziemski was also the boys basketball Gatorade Player of the Year for Wisconsin in 2021. Podziemski was rated a four-star recruit and committed to play college basketball at Illinois over offers from Kentucky, Miami (Fla.), Vanderbilt, and Wake Forest.

Podziemski was a left-handed pitcher growing up with opportunities to pursue baseball after high school. Podziemski played varsity football his junior year at St. John's Northwestern Academies as a wide receiver and safety.

College career
Podziemski began his college basketball career with the Illinois Fighting Illini. He played in 16 games as a freshman, all off the bench, and averaged 1.4 points per game. After the end of the season, Podziemski entered the NCAA transfer portal.

Podziemski ultimately transferred to Santa Clara. He entered his first season with the Broncos as the team's starting shooting guard. Podziemski scored 30 points with 9 rebounds and 5 steals in Santa Clara's season opener against Eastern Washington as the Broncos won 84-72. He scored 34 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in the following game against Georgia Southern. At the close of the 2022–23 regular season, he was named WCC co-Player of the Year, sharing the award with Drew Timme of Gonzaga, WCC Newcomer of the Year, NABC First Team, USBWA All-District, and All-WCC First Team. Podziemski also earned WCC Player of the Week honors a SCU record four times, his 636 points was the fourth most in a season in program history, and his SCU three-point percentage was fourth-best in SCU program history. Podziemski was one of only three NCAA Division 1 men's basketball players to average 19, 8, and 3 in the 2022-23 season and finished 5th in the nation in three-point field goal percentage (43.8%).

Podziemski declared for the 2023 NBA draft while maintaining his eligibility. After taking part in the NBA Draft Combine and receiving positive feedback, he decided to remain in the draft.

Professional career
The Golden State Warriors selected Podziemski with the nineteenth overall pick in the 2023 NBA draft and on July 3, 2023, signed him to a contract.

On December 12, 2023, against the Phoenix Suns, Podziemski became the first Golden State Warriors rookie to have 20+ points, 10+ rebounds (11), and 5 or more assists in a single game since two-time NBA MVP Stephen Curry did so in the 2009-10 season. On December 16, 2023, Podziemski put up 19 points, five rebounds, five assists, three steals, and a career-high four three-pointers made in a 124–120 win over the Brooklyn Nets. On December 25, 2023, against the Denver Nuggets, Podziemski became the first rookie in NBA history to have 9+ rebounds, 6+ assists, 5+ steals, and 3+ three pointers in a single game. (That evening, he had 13 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists, and 5 steals on 57/75/100 splits.) On January 14, 2024, in a game against the Milwaukee Bucks, he scored 23 points and recorded 10 rebounds, three assists, and two steals. On February 16, 2024, Podziemski played in the Panini Rising Stars tournament in Indianapolis for Team Pau. On May 21 2024, Podziemski was announced on the NBA all rookie first team.

Personal life
Podziemski is of Polish descent and has expressed interest in obtaining Polish citizenship in order to play for the Poland men's national basketball team.