The Celtics-Mavericks NBA Finals have been fun, and Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski is motivated to help his team get back here.

If the Golden State Warriors are hoping to get back to the NBA Finals, they’ll have to start relying on a bit more of their younger players like Brandin Podziemski.

For the second year in a row, the NBA has brought on Player Correspondents to attend and report from the NBA Finals. This year, the league brought in Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr., Rockets guard Amen Thompson, Detroit Pistons guard Ausar Thompson, and Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski.

In between the Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks, series, Podziemski took time to ask players a few questions that he wanted answers to.

To Mavs star Luka Doncic, Podziemski asked about how he reads the floor and makes his next move once he beats or gets by a defender. For Celtics guard Jrue Holiday, Podziemski asked about defending at a high level and gambling for steals.

Here are the answers from both Doncic and Holiday:

Ahead of Game 5 of the NBA Finals, Brandin Podziemski also stopped by and spoke with ClutchPoints about being put in this position of Finals Correspondent and his rookie season with Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors.

In 74 games for the Warriors, including 28 starts, Podziemski averaged 9.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 3.7 assists on 45.4 percent shooting from the field and 38.5 percent from three. He finished fifth in Rookie of the Year voting and became a key contributor to the Warriors bench by the end of the season.

Keynote George’s Full NBA Finals Interview With ClutchPoints

Tomer Azarly: Here with Brandin Podziemski, Warriors guard and 2024 NBA Finals Player Correspondent. How did this whole thing come together for you?

Brandin Podziemski: Yeah, I’ve got approached for it during an all-star weekend. Asked if I wanted to do it, and I knew it would be a good opportunity for me, both for now and for the future. It’s been cool to see kind of what goes on behind the scenes. I’ve always been interested in that kind of stuff. And from a player’s perspective, how much it really is on you to do outside of just playing. So I think it will prepare me for the Finals in the future.

You had a couple of good questions for Luka Doncic and Jrue Holiday. Is this something that you think you’re going to carve a lane for yourself to do after basketball?

Yeah, I think I want to do something that someone like JJ Reddick, does. Having a podcast, calling games, and just using my knowledge of the game. I feel like I only must give that back to the youth.

The Warriors were here a couple of years ago, but when you look at the stage, see how many media members are here, how many celebrities show up, how much does that motivate you at all to get them back here again?

Oh, 100%. It motivates me to get back. I want to get here as soon as next year. Every year that I lace them up, I try to get back here, and it’s super cool to be a part of something like this.

You had a stellar rookie season, started some games, and played well in that position as well. It’s got to be fun playing with Steph Curry and those guys, right? What was that like?

Yeah, it was easy, I would say, just because they make it so simple for young guys like me, they take the brunt of the work. So for me, it was just trying to fit in where I can and do the little things, and looking for my role to increase here in year two.

You’re a two-way guard, you try to get it done on both ends. What’s the next step in the growth and progression of Brandin Podziemski?

Yeah, I think offensively is why I asked a question to Luka yesterday and defensively is why I asked Jrue what I asked. Just being a point-of-attack defender on defense and being a primary ball handler on offense. So trying to get the best of two worlds and one of the best offensive players in the world here in Luka, and Jrue on the other side. So just thinking about their brains, asking them things, I think will help me.

Game 5 of the 2024 NBA Finals between the Celtics and Mavericks is set to continue on Monday at 8:30 PM EST.

Tomer Azarly is in his seventh season as the credentialed LA Clippers and NBA beat writer for ClutchPoints. Residing in Los Angeles, Tomer brings you everything you need to know about the Clippers, from the Lob City era to the Kawhi Leonard-Paul George era.