Some have compared the strong start of the Golden State Warriors to the 2025-26 season to how the team performed during their championship seasons. The team has a 3-1 start to the year, which is something that not a lot of aging teams have done in the past. The seasoned players Jimmy Butler, Al Horford, Draymond Green, and Steph Curry are largely responsible for their success.
Their young core has also made productive contributions. Jonathan Kuminga has started in the first three games of the year. First-year player Will Richard has been reliable, averaging six points off the bench. However, starting shooting guard Brandin Podziemski has struggled to make an impact for Golden State.
In the first three games of the year, Podz has averaged 8.7 points in 29.7 minutes of action. He’s shooting 36% from the field and 30.8% from beyond the arc. He’s producing less than the previous season, where he averaged 11.7 points on 44.5% from the field and 37.2% from deep.
Amid his early-season slump, however, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr sent a message to the 22-year-old guard. Kerr doesn’t want Podz to rush things and relax on the floor as he looks to find his rhythm. The former Chicago Bulls guard talked about the young guard ahead of their Monday game against the Memphis Grizzlies.
“He’s not at his best right now. He’s pressing a little bit. Brandin always wants to be great. Sometimes he just needs to relax and be good, and that’s when his play becomes great,” said Kerr.
Steve Kerr on Brandin Podziemski pregame: "He's not at his best right now. He's pressing a little bit. Brandin always wants to be great. Sometimes he just needs to relax and be good and that's when his play becomes great." pic.twitter.com/dLn2OowdF3
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) October 28, 2025
Following their game against the Grizzlies, Podz seemed to have found his groove. He helped the team capture a 131-118 victory by scoring 23 points as a starter.
The Warriors’ young core led the charge against the Grizzlies on Monday
It wasn’t Curry who carried the Warriors on Monday against the Grizzlies. Rather, it was the collective young core of Podz, Kuminga and Moses Moody. The second-year guard out of Santa Clara had 23 points. Kuminga, on the other hand, led the team in scoring with his 25 points. He also had 10 rebounds and four assists on an efficient 64.3% shooting from the field.
Moody came off the bench and added 20 points on 71.4% shooting from the field. Curry ended the game with 16 points and didn’t take plenty of shots. But he was high on the team’s young core for stepping up and producing All-Star numbers.
Following the contest, he spoke highly of the team effort and how the youngsters took charge of the game.
“That’s how you get through a regular season. Just the unpredictably, but the confidence that … everybody can step up,” Curry said.
Regarding Golden State’s balanced scoring, Stephen Curry notes it’s how the offense is designed.
“That’s how you get through a regular season. Just the unpredictably, but the confidence that … everybody can step up.”
More: pic.twitter.com/7KSCJMPUbC
— Sam Gordon (@BySamGordon) October 28, 2025
The next game for the Warriors will be against the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday. It will be their second back-to-back of the season, and they will need everyone to contribute in every way.
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Reign also writes NBA and WNBA news updates on Sportskeeda. He started as a feature writer for AirAlamo, an NBA website that covers the San Antonio Spurs. Some of his work can also be seen on Valley of the Suns, a Phoenix Suns-centric website, where he served as a contributing writer.
