The Golden State Warriors acquiring Jordan Bell on draft night is a reason for everyone to be ecstatic with the team’s decision.
The Golden State Warriors traded with the Chicago Bulls for Jordan Bell, the leading shot blocker in the PAC-12 last season for the Oregon Ducks. Golden State paid the Bulls $3.5 million for the versatile forward.
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Now, I am grateful and blessed to go to Oregon and when I heard that Jordan Bell was traded to the Warriors, I could not help but feel ecstatic. Not only did I know that the Warriors were getting a bull dog of a worker but also a player who could run the floor and could also chase down blocks like it’s nobody’s business. I saw a player that was acquired by the Warriors that was willing to outwork every other player on the glass.
Bell was a player that I saw had so much passion and drive for the game that when he did not grab two defensive rebounds against North Carolina in last year’s Final Four game that tears streamed down his face for being unable to box out UNC big man Kennedy Meeks.
All of these characteristics I saw of Bell started to take form at Matthew Knight Arena, the home court for the Oregon Ducks. There were several times I was sitting in the student section, the “Pit Crew” and a player on the other team would go in for a seemingly uncontested layup and Bell would come flying out of nowhere and spike the ball hard enough for it to go to Portland. The “Pit Crew” would jump up and down with their hands over their heads in disbelief that Bell had come out of nowhere to block the shot.
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Other times I would be sitting in the Pit Crew and Bell would put his head down and drive hard to the basket and it would end with a thunderous dunk that would send Matthew Knight Arena into a frenzy. Arms would be raised and the volume level inside the arena would be deafening after a highlight dunk from Bell.
Take it from me Warriors fans, Jordan Bell could add another rim protector and elite defender, along with roaring dunks. He will only add to the elite defensive corp of Draymond Green, Kevin Durant, Andre Iguodala and Klay Thompson. Imagine the defensive rating this group would have with Bell included in the group.