Golden State Warriors guards Stephen Curry and Brandin Podziemski watch a Curry warm-up shot attempt before playing the Sacramento Kings on Nov. 1 at Chase Center.Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle

Their lockers are next to each other at Chase Center. Podziemski often watches Curry’s shooting routine before games and after practices, and he sometimes sits next to Curry on the bench during games.

All the while Podziemski peppers Curry with questions, a promising rookie trying to accelerate his NBA education by soaking in knowledge from a future Hall of Famer. Why do you take shots in that order during workouts? What do you think about my floaters in the lane? Why did you use this move on that defender?

“He is kind of the annoying little brother who asks questions all the time, and he’s always talking,” Curry said in a Chronicle interview. “But I love that about him and tell him to tap into it more because his energy is infectious. We know the care factor is there, and I know he listens.”

Podziemski clearly listens. He carries himself with unmistakable swagger — head coach Steve Kerr, smiling, called him “cocky” — but he also recognizes his uncommon opportunity with the Warriors, playing for a coach with nine championship rings and alongside three players (Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green) with four rings and another (Kevon Looney) with three.

These Warriors also have Chris Paul, one of the best point guards ever.

Podziemski mostly gravitates toward Curry, the two-time MVP who has made more 3-point shots than any player in NBA history. Podziemski watched Curry from afar as a teenager growing up in Wisconsin and as a college freshman at Illinois, then watched him even more often while a sophomore at Santa Clara last season.

Now they’re locker-room neighbors, mentor and pupil, cool 35-year-old who has nearly seen it all and exuberant 20-year-old who barely has seen anything.

Podziemski made a point of saying all Warriors veterans show the team’s younger players what it takes to excel in the league. He also acknowledged his unique connection with Curry and described their daily interactions as “like no other.”

“I want to be the best I can be, and I think we have the best player in the NBA,” Podziemski said of Curry. “So I want to do everything he does — ask him questions, call him, FaceTime him, just anything I can do to learn.”

Their relationship has blossomed during an awkward time around the Warriors, amid intensifying scrutiny of the skills (Thompson) and temperament (Green) of two older players. Youngsters such as Podziemski and Moses Moody, whose fourth-quarter removal from Tuesday night’s game in Sacramento sparked debate about Kerr’s loyalty to the veterans, are showing signs of readiness for bigger roles.

Podziemski enjoyed a breakout night Nov. 14, when Thompson and Green were ejected early in Golden State’s game against Minnesota. Podziemski had played more than 12 minutes in a game only once to that point, but the Warriors suddenly needed him — and he produced, scoring 23 points with seven rebounds and five assists in 39 minutes.

But now, with Paul (lower left leg) and Gary Payton II (right calf) sidelined by new injuries, Podziemski finds himself back in the mix. He played 31 minutes in Thursday night’s win over the Los Angeles Clippers, scoring 13 points and grabbing eight rebounds. Kerr used Podziemski in the closing lineup, then said afterward he expects that to continue given the way Podziemski reads the game.

No matter how much playing time he collects, Podziemski doesn’t lack confidence. Consider his response when he was asked about the contrast between his game and Curry’s, and how that affects the lessons he gleans.

“Steph’s unique, but at the same time I think I’m unique in how I play,” Podziemski said. “It’s not how the average rookie plays. So it’s learning from him and implementing that into my own uniqueness. …

Podziemski did not initially seek out Curry’s counsel. Shortly after the Warriors made him the 19th overall pick in the NBA draft in June, he received a FaceTime call from Curry. Podziemski was a bit star-struck at first.

But Curry’s low-key, engaging manner tends to strip away pretense or intimidation. Curry told Podziemski to let him know if he needed anything. Before long, Curry invited Podziemski to join him for summer workouts in Las Vegas and San Francisco, in addition to team gatherings in Vegas and Los Angeles.

“People would pay as much money as they have to be in that workout, or just to watch Steph work out, and I get to do it for free every day,” Podziemski said. “I never take that for granted.”

Curry also watched Podziemski play in the NBA summer league, where he struggled to find his footing. Curry suggested he limit difficult floaters in the lane and not hesitate to launch 3-point shots.

Podziemski made 43.8% of his long-range attempts last season at Santa Clara, impressive efficiency given the volume (nearly six such shots per game). He’s shooting 41.9% beyond the arc this season with the Warriors.

Kerr compared Podziemski to a baseball pitcher with several pitches in his arsenal. Kerr wants Podziemski to treat his 3-point shot like his fastball, the preferred option, and then employ his other moves — such as his cutting and passing — as his change of pace.

Not surprisingly (again, he’s 20), Podziemski wants it all to come together immediately. Curry preaches patience.

“The biggest temptation is to try to get the answers for the test before the test is in front of you,” Curry said. “What I mean by that is, he’s always asking: ‘Hey, if you see anything out there let me know.’ But the reps need to come to understand what this level of basketball is like, and then once those reps come you can kind of figure out what you might need to tweak.

“Right now, his energy, effort and the way he competes will carry him a long way, because he stays ready. He’s overly zealous trying to figure everything out right now, and there’s been a lot thrown at him. The patience of it is probably going to be his biggest challenge.” Podziemski appears to have won over his coaches and teammates. Thompson praised how hard he plays and the joy he exudes. Kerr embraced Podziemski’s cockiness, saying “it’s important in this league to know you’re good” while also showing proper humility around older players — “which he’s learning,” Kerr added.

And then occasionally Podziemski straight-up imitates his celebrated mentor.

The Warriors were trying to put away the Pistons on Nov. 6 in Detroit. Curry knifed down the lane in the final minute and made a left-handed layup, pushing Golden State’s lead to 10 points with 29 seconds left.

Podziemski rose from the bench, cocked his head sideways and placed his left cheek against his pressed-together hands — the night-night gesture Curry started using in the 2022 playoffs to signify “game over.” It seemed a tad extreme coming from a rookie, even one whom Curry has taken under his wing.

Curry learned about Podziemski’s night-night gesture during this week’s Chronicle interview. He smiled sheepishly and shook his head, like a slightly embarrassed big brother.

“I didn’t see that,” Curry said. “I take all the positives, and what I call the opportunities for growth, in the best spirit. Being a great basketball player is the most important thing in the world to BP, so I love it.”