How a Wisconsin standout rose from the bench to the NBA
In short: After playing only 16 games as a bench player for Illinois, Brandin Podziemski transformed his trajectory. Through a strategic transfer and a dominant collegiate season, he caught the eyes of NBA scouts, eventually becoming a key piece for the Golden State Warriors.
The journey of Brandin Podziemski, known as "Podz," is a study in collegiate resilience and rapid development. After a modest freshman season at the University of Illinois, where he averaged just 1.4 points per game across 16 appearances, Podziemski entered the NCAA transfer portal. This move proved pivotal. Joining the Santa Clara Broncos, he immediately transitioned from a bench player to the starting shooting guard, delivering a standout 2022–23 campaign.
That year, Podziemski reached a unique statistical milestone, joining just three NCAA Division 1 men's basketball players to record averages of 19 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 assists. His precision was remarkably high; he ranked 5th nationally for three-point field goal percentage at 43.8%. Such college achievements led to him being drafted 19th by the Golden State Warriors during the 2023 NBA draft.
His professional debut with the Warriors has been marked by both historic milestones and physical challenges. In December 2023, he became the first Warriors rookie since Stephen Curry's 2009–10 season to record at least 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists in a single game. Despite facing an abdominal injury in late 2024 and subsequent wrist and core muscle surgeries in 2025, Podziemski has remained a consistent presence, appearing in all 82 games during the 2025–26 season.
Beyond his on-court performance, Podziemski’s heritage plays a role in his future aspirations. Of Polish descent, he has expressed interest in pursuing Polish citizenship to represent the Poland national team, a move supported by recruitment efforts from teammate Jeremy Sochan.
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