Golden State Warriors: Jordan Bell impresses in debut
The Golden State Warriors’ Jordan Bell impressed in his first minutes of NBA action.
After winning their second championship in three years, the Golden State Warriors got right to work. For the second consecutive summer, they got themselves into the NBA Draft. A Draft Night trade landed them one of the more interesting young players.
The Chicago Bulls drafted the Jordan Bell out of the University of Oregon with the 38th pick in the Draft. The Warriors quickly struck a deal with the rebuilding Eastern Conference team. They added a player they could develop into a solid contributor.
The best-case scenario for the former Duck is that he turns into a version of Draymond Green. Of course, that ceiling is ridiculously high and it’s unlikely he’ll get there. That isn’t a knock against Bell, that’s just a testament to Green’s individual brilliance.
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We covered Bell and the things he could potentially do after the Warriors traded for him. Long story short, he could be a versatile defender that could be a high-level rim protector even at his listed height of 6’9. Offensively, he isn’t as gifted as Green, but he can finish at the rim and in transition.
We finally got to see Bell in some NBA action. I know that it’s only preseason, but that can’t be any less valuable than college tape. Playing with some of the best players in the world is definitely a good thing.
Bell played 10 minutes. Most importantly, he got some run with and against key players. And he did more than hold his own.
He had four points, two assists, one rebound, and one block. His rejection was pretty spectacular as he jumped far too early to protect the rim. As Nikola Jokic rose up for the seemingly uncontested finish, Bell managed to get his hand on the ball and slap it away, leading to a Stephen Curry three-pointer on the other end.
Bell showed that he has a feel for the game. Ultimately, that’s more important than anything else. Things like shooting and handle can be worked on, but feel is completely unteachable. He filled the lane at the right time, playing well off of Curry and Green for a dunk.
It’s only 10 NBA minutes, but still, there’s something there. It was pretty impressive. He played under control and read everything well, combining timing with his physical tools.
Bell will get more opportunities. His debut should have Golden State Warriors fans feeling pretty good.