Golden State Warriors: 3 Players who will be pivotal in Klay’s absence
By Tony Pesta
Jordan Poole
Selecting Jordan Poole late in the first round of the 2019 NBA Draft felt like a win at the time… but it took a while for this pick to finally start paying off. A bumpy rookie season and back-and-forth trips to the G-League have helped make Poole the player he is today — and he’s ready to make an impact in his third year.
Poole finished his sophomore stint strong by averaging 20.5 points on above 50 percent shooting over the final six games of the season. His confidence ballooned and his red-hot streak from the field made him an interesting backcourt partner for Stephen Curry.
He’ll never equal the defensive impact that Klay Thompson provides but Poole can act as some compensation for Klay’s 3-point output. Poole has grown as an off-ball and on-ball threat to score and his hint of playmaking chops are useful when opponents attempt to overwhelm Curry.
Poole’s experience with the Warriors helps, as well. He is now entering his third NBA season and has enjoyed his time learning behind one of the greatest point guards in basketball history. Do not overlook how important Poole will be while Thompson nurses his knee.