Steph Curry of the Golden State Warriors
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Steph Curry has led the Golden State Warriors to four NBA championships.
The Golden State Warriors may soon face another complicated contract negotiation as young guard Brandin Podziemski becomes eligible for a rookie-scale extension this offseason.
Early indications suggest the discussions could mirror the type of tense negotiations the franchise experienced last summer.
According to Tim Kawakami of the San Francisco Standard, there may already be a gap between what Podziemski could seek in a new contract and what Golden State may be willing to offer.
“This should be another interesting rookie-extension negotiation this offseason,” Kawakami wrote.
The comment referenced the Warriors’ recent history of complicated extension talks with young players, most notably the contentious negotiations involving Jonathan Kuminga last summer.
Golden State and Kuminga’s camp went through months of back-and-forth discussions before ultimately reaching a deal, with reports at the time indicating disagreements over the guard-forward’s long-term value and role within the franchise.
Kawakami suggested Podziemski’s negotiations could follow a similarly delicate path.
“I don’t know if Podziemski’s worth much more than the three-year, $39-million deal that Moses Moody got in October 2024, but I’m positive that he will want more,” Kawakami wrote.
At the same time, Kawakami added that the Warriors are unlikely to pursue the type of aggressive extension they once gave Jordan Poole.
“I also am relatively sure that the Warriors won’t want to pay Podziemski anything near the $123 million they paid Jordan Poole in October 2022,” Kawakami wrote.
If the two sides fail to reach a compromise, Kawakami suggested the situation could stretch deeper into Podziemski’s rookie contract.
“So is everybody OK with no deal next cycle, some tensions growing, and this going to restricted free agency in July 2027?” Kawakami wrote.
Podziemski Sees Himself as Face of Warriors’ Future
Brandin Podziemski, Stephen Curry, Warriors
GettyBrandin Podziemski and Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors celebrate a basket.
Podziemski has never hidden his ambition to eventually play a central role in the franchise’s next era once the current core led by Stephen Curry begins to transition.
“When they leave this thing, they’ve got to leave it with somebody,” Podziemski told The Athletic earlier this season.
“How can I have their trust? They can go to Joe [Lacob] and Mike [Dunleavy] and say, ‘Hey, we want to leave it with him.’”
The 23-year-old guard has embraced a larger offensive role this season, particularly during stretches when Curry and other veterans have been sidelined.
Podziemski Producing During Expanded Role
Podziemski has responded with strong performances.
He scored 25 points with five rebounds and six assists during Sunday’s 110–107 loss to the New York Knicks, marking his second straight 25-point outing after a similar performance against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Since moving into the starting lineup on Feb. 25, Podziemski has averaged 18.4 points, 6.9 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game across nine starts while shooting 38.5 percent from three-point range.
His increased role has also placed him in late-game situations.
Against the Knicks, Podziemski attempted a step-back three-pointer with the Warriors trailing by one point in the final seconds. The shot missed, sealing the result.
Despite the outcome, Warriors coach Steve Kerr praised the young guard’s aggressiveness.
“Loved it,” Kerr said. “I didn’t want to call a timeout. I wanted to play in flow.”
“I love it, take the three, go for the throat,” Kerr added.
Warriors Still Evaluating Long-Term Role
While Podziemski’s growth has been evident, Kawakami suggested the Warriors are still determining how he fits into their long-term backcourt plans.
Golden State currently has multiple guards capable of initiating offense, including De’Anthony Melton and Moody.
Kawakami also noted that Podziemski’s most productive stretches often come when paired with another primary playmaker.
One example has been his on-court pairing with Melton, which Kawakami reported has produced a +14.6 net rating in more than 400 minutes together this season.
With Podziemski continuing to handle increased responsibility while Curry remains sidelined, the Warriors will likely spend the remainder of the season evaluating his trajectory.
Those performances could ultimately shape how both sides approach what Kawakami has already described as a potentially “interesting” contract negotiation this summer.