The Warriors officially signed security guard Brandin underground on Saturday before the rookie-scale expansion, which is reportedly worth $110 million over five years. The 23-year-old told reporters, including Nick Friedel of The Athletic (Link to Twitter) — that he is “very grateful” for his new contract and for the team’s faith in him.
“This shows their faith and trust. I owe them“Said the underworld.
How Dalton Johnson of NBC Sports Bay Area writes, Podzemski’s extension, which will begin in 2027/28 (he will earn $5.7 million this season before the new deal takes effect), is comparable to recent contracts signed Ayo Dosunmu (five years, $112 million) and Peyton Watson (four years, $88 million). Podzemski will make $22 million per year on his new deal, the same as Watson’s average annual salary and slightly less than Dosunmu.
Podzemski was the first player drafted Mike Dunleavy Jr when he took over as Warriors general manager in 2023, Johnson notes, and the former Santa Clara star has shown improvement in each of his first three seasons. Johnson sees the deal as “good business” for the Warriors.
Podzemski said at his end-of-season press conference in April that he learned from watching Moses Moody and Jonathan Cuminga Johnson notes that they have been negotiating their own contracts with the Warriors for the past couple of years. Moody signed a three-year, $39 million rookie contract extension in 2024, while Cummings failed to win an extension in the 24th and completed a controversial restricted free agency process in the 25th before being traded to Atlanta in February.
“I think that him and Moses doing two different things for me also helped, just seeing the good and the bad for both sides“The poisonous world said in April.”I don’t think one is better than the other, but seeing it as a teammate and seeing how they handled both situations, I think it will help me.”
Here’s more on the Warriors:
- Star guard Stephen Curry again only played in the first half of Saturday’s preseason win over Sacramento, tweets ESPN’s Anthony Slater. It was the third consecutive exhibition match in which the 38-year-old played only the first two quarters. “We’re ramping it up more slowly than usual“, head coach Steve Kerr said before the game. According to Slater, Kerr said the Warriors plan to lighten Curry’s coaching workload in the 2026-27 season as the two-time MVP enters his 18th year in the league.
- While Kerr acknowledged Friday that a starting backcourt featuring Curry and Podzemski will have some limitations on defense, he reiterated his faith in Podzemski ahead of Saturday’s game. Monte Poole of NBC Sports Bay Area. “We believe Brandin is a great young player, a big part of our future and he is securing his future financially” Kerr said.And it’s a deal that makes a lot of sense based on our numbers.”
- Johnson of NBC Sports Bay Area shares his thoughts from Saturday’s win, noting that the rookie forward Yaksel Landeborg filled the stat sheet with 23 points (10-of-14 shooting), 10 rebounds, six assists, two steals and a block in just 24 minutes. The No. 11 overall pick was a plus-18 for the five-point win.
