Podz Wants to Be Steph So Bad: Podziemski's Curry Impersonation Went Viral Twice in One Week

The short answer: Podziemski copied Curry twice in one week

Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski went viral for the second time in a week on Friday night, holding up four fingers in Stephen Curry's signature four-point-play celebration during a 128-118 preseason win over the Portland Trail Blazers — just days after a clip of him chewing his mouthguard in Curry's trademark style against the Los Angeles Lakers spread across social media. Fans are split between laughing it off as mentorship and roasting the 23-year-old for what one viral post called an "identity crisis."

That is the story: a young guard talked about as Curry's successor, a new $110 million contract raising the stakes, and two celebrations in four days that look like copy-paste. Below is what happened, why it is blowing up, and what it means for Golden State.

What happened against Portland on Friday?

In the second quarter against Portland, with Golden State leading, Podziemski hit a three-pointer while drawing contact and falling to the floor, completing a dramatic four-point play. As he got back up, he held up four fingers — Curry's iconic way of counting a three plus the free throw to come.

EssentiallySports reported the moment came with Golden State holding a 44-36 lead and 7:40 remaining in the second quarter, and that Podziemski finished with 17 points in the 128-118 win. College Sports Network matched the sequence, reporting that Scoot Henderson fouled Podziemski from behind on the shot and that fans immediately recognised Curry's celebration in what Podziemski did next.

The Lakers clip that started it

Friday was the sequel, not the premiere. During Golden State's 101-89 preseason win over the Lakers on Tuesday, cameras caught Podziemski walking between possessions with a slow, nonchalant stride, an outstretched high-five, and his mouthguard hanging out as he chewed it — all unmistakably Curry mannerisms.

ClutchPoints and Yardbarker both covered the Courtside Buzz clip shared on X on October 14, which laid the similarities side by side and asked fans to judge for themselves. Many did — harshly. Comments quoted in coverage called the imitation "creepy," joked that he had copied everything except the skills, and noted even a newly buzzed hairstyle that looks more like Curry's.

Why is this blowing up now?

Timing is everything. The clips landed in the same week the Warriors committed to Podziemski as a long-term piece of their future. Both ClutchPoints and Yardbarker reported, citing ESPN's Shams Charania, that he agreed to a five-year, $110 million extension — fully guaranteed, with a mutual option for 2031-32 and a trade kicker. EssentiallySports reported the deal keeps the 19th overall pick from the 2023 NBA Draft in the Bay Area through the 2031-32 season.

That contract changes how fans read every gesture. A role player borrowing a superstar's swagger is a funny footnote. A $110 million guard positioned as the post-Curry pillar doing it twice in a week becomes a debate about authenticity and succession.

There is also a kinder reading. Young players have always modelled themselves on greats — Kobe Bryant famously built much of his game on Michael Jordan's. Podziemski plays next to Curry every day, in the same system. Some overlap in habits is almost inevitable. The internet, however, does not do nuance at preseason speed, and the second clip turned a one-off observation into a running joke.

Key facts

• Player: Brandin Podziemski, 23, Golden State Warriors guard, a 2023 first-round pick (19th overall).
• First viral clip: Tuesday vs. the Lakers — a 101-89 Warriors preseason win — chewing his mouthguard, slow walk, and outstretched high-five in Curry's style.
• Second viral clip: Friday vs. Portland — a 128-118 Warriors win, 17 points for Podziemski, and a four-finger celebration after a second-quarter four-point play.
• Contract: A reported five-year, $110 million extension, fully guaranteed, per ESPN's Shams Charania via multiple outlets.
• Season opener: Golden State opens the regular season against the Lakers on October 21, per EssentiallySports — the same matchup that produced the first clip.

What's next?

The jokes will follow Podziemski into opening night, and every celebration will now be clipped and compared in real time. The way out is in his control: play well enough that the conversation returns to his game. He scored 17 points in the Portland win. If that production holds when the games count, this fades into a preseason curiosity. If it does not, a $110 million contract and a borrowed celebration are exactly what social media will keep resurfacing.

FAQ

What did Brandin Podziemski do that went viral?

Twice in one preseason week he copied Stephen Curry's mannerisms: chewing his mouthguard with Curry's slow, nonchalant walk against the Lakers on Tuesday, then holding up four fingers after a four-point play against Portland on Friday.

How big is Podziemski's new contract?

Multiple outlets, citing ESPN's Shams Charania, reported a five-year, $110 million extension that is fully guaranteed, with a mutual option for 2031-32 and a trade kicker.

Did Podziemski play well in the viral games?

Yes, by the reports cited here. He scored 17 points in Friday's 128-118 win over Portland, and coverage of the Lakers game noted he led Golden State in scoring in that preseason win as well.

When do the Warriors play next?

Golden State opens its 2026-27 regular season against the Los Angeles Lakers on October 21, according to EssentiallySports — a rematch of the matchup that produced the first viral clip.