Brandin Podziemski just snagged a massive five-year, $110 million extension from the Golden State Warriors, a deal that includes a mutual fifth-year option for 2031-32 and a trade kicker. This guy is coming off the best season of his NBA career, and the Warriors clearly know what they have in him, which is a good thing because, honestly, the rest of the team feels like it is on shaky ground.
Golden State’s Wild Ride Just Got Wilder
Let’s be real, this extension comes at a pivotal moment for the Warriors. There were real rumblings about head coach Steve Kerr’s future after their season-ending loss to the Phoenix Suns in the play-in tournament. Kerr ultimately decided to come back for his 13th season, agreeing to a two-year contract on May 9. But that was just the start of the drama. Beyond the questions about who would be coaching, the roster itself was in a state of flux. Jimmy Butler is likely to miss at least part of the season after tearing his ACL in January and undergoing surgery in February. Then there’s Draymond Green, who turned down his $27.7 million player option, apparently to give the team flexibility for a LeBron James signing. When LeBron went to the 76ers, Green just signed a one-year deal to return for that exact same $27.7 million. Kristaps Porziņģis did return on a two-year, $40 million deal, which is something, but still. Even Stephen Curry, who should be the one sure thing for them, is coming off a season where he missed 39 games due to injuries. Talk about a squad that needs some anchors!
Why Podziemski Is Their Real MVP (Right Now)
So, why drop $110 million on Podziemski right now? He was a first-round pick back in the 2023 NBA draft, and over the past three seasons, he has absolutely established himself as an essential piece of Golden State’s rotation. This 23-year-old was one of just 18 players who appeared in all 82 games during the 2025-26 campaign. Think about that consistency! He finished fourth on the Warriors in scoring average, putting up 13.8 points per game, and shot a solid 37.1 percent from three on 5.0 attempts per game. The Warriors still had him under contract for next season, on the final year of his rookie deal, but getting this extension done now gives them some serious future security as he keeps ascending. They do not have a ton of long-term building blocks in Golden State right now, so even if Podziemski is still working his way up to that superstar level, he has shown enough when more is put on his plate to suggest the Warriors can rely on him as a quality role player going forward. This deal means they have got at least one thing locked down, and that is huge for a team that desperately needs some stability.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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