Brandin Podziemski's Steph Curry Comments Reportedly Drew 'Eyerolls' from Warriors
The Golden State Warriors' current slump is starting to raise questions about their status as title contenders this season.
ESPN's Anthony Slater reported that a lack of significant improvement from Warriors youngsters Jonathan Kuminga and Brandin Podziemski has been a key factor in Golden State losing five of its last seven games to fall to 6-6. Podziemski, in particular, has failed to live up to the goal he declared before the season when he was asked if he wanted to be as great as star point guard Stephen Curry.
"Podziemski said he 'wants to be better than him,' an answer that elicited some eyerolls and continued references from several within the organization," Slater revealed.
Podziemski has started seven of his 12 appearances for the Warriors this season and is averaging 12.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.3 steals. Those numbers aren't very different from the third-year guard's averages from the 2024-25 season, when he posted 11.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.1 steals in 64 games with 33 starts.
Kuminga, who has started all 12 games this season, hasn't been much better, as he's averaged 14.9 points this year after averaging 15.3 points in 47 games with 10 starts in 2024-25. He had 13 points in Tuesday night's loss to the defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder, while Podziemski had 10 points off the bench.
The Warriors' recent struggles prompted outspoken forward Draymond Green to call out the team for what he feels is a different mindset compared to the strong finish to last season that saw Golden State go 23-8 down the stretch to earn a spot in the playoffs.
"I think everybody was committed to winning [back then] and doing that any way possible," Green said. "Right now, it doesn't feel that way."
The Warriors will try to get back on track when they face the San Antonio Spurs (8-2) on Wednesday night.
