Golden State Warriors‘ guard Jordan Poole was one of the revelations of last season, playing a crucial role in the franchise’s run to the NBA championship.
The 23-year-old third-year guard finished fourth in Most Improved Player voting, finishing behind Cleveland Cavaliers’ Darius Garland, then-San Antonio Spurs’ Dejounte Murray, and eventual winner, Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant.
Golden State Warriors’ guard Jordan Poole looks set to build on an exciting 2021-22 season, sharing equal favoritism for the NBA’s 2022-23 Sixth Man of the Year award.
The third-year guard averaged career-highs across the board, including points (18.4), rebounds (3.4), and assists (4). He also beat out Finals MVP Stephen Curry for the league’s highest free throw percentage, shooting a remarkable 92.5%.
According to DraftKings Sportsbook, Poole is an equal favorite for Sixth Man of the Year alongside Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro. The pair have often been compared for their electric scoring, questionable defense, and same experience level as they enter their fourth seasons.
Poole and Herro each sit at +500, with the top five rounded out by newly acquired Boston Celtics guard Malcolm Brogdon (+1200), second-year Nugget Bones Hyland (+1800), and perennial candidate Jordan Clarkson (+1800).
Adjusting to a bench role could still take time for Poole, with the Michigan product having started in 51 of his 76 regular season games in 2021-22.
That included a period to begin as Klay Thompson continued his recovery from major injury, along with a stretch to end the season when Curry went down with an ankle issue. Filling in as starting point-guard, Poole had a historic run that included 17 straight games with at least 20 points.
He started his first postseason in the starting line-up but reverted to a bench role as the playoffs progressed.
Poole certainly has the talent and proven production to win Sixth Man of the Year, but it’ll be interesting to see how his mindset and approach align with the fact he may find himself in a contract year.