Jordan Poole should be careful what he wishes for after Golden State Warriors exit
Jordan Poole’s last season with the Golden State Warriors was a messy one — not that it was entirely his fault with an inexcusable punch from Draymond Green and an at times inconsistent role hardly helping his cause.
The young guard’s form was productive for much of the regular season, with Poole averaging over 20 points per game and often igniting the offense during Stephen Curry’s 27 missed games. His playoff production, on the other hand, was abysmal and he was promptly traded to the Washington Wizards early in the offseason.
Jordan Poole should be careful what he wishes for after his departure from the Golden State Warriors to the Washington Wizards.
Speaking to Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports recently, Poole reflected on his four-year tenure with the Warriors and his newfound opportunity within a rebuilding Wizards franchise.
"“It’s a bit different, too, like, once your contract is signed and once you got a ring. Essentially everything that needed to be done in Golden State got done. I got a ring. Made sure my family is straight. A good situation to come in [to Washington] and just kind of have my own team, play my own type of basketball,” Poole said."
It’s true that the 24-year-old achieved a lot during his time in the Bay — to go from a 28th overall pick to an NBA champion and $120+ million player is a terrific story in anyone’s book. For that, Poole will always hold a place in the heart of Golden State fans.
From an on-court perspective, the trajectory of Poole’s career will be an interesting watch over the next few years. Much was made of the dynamic playing behind future hall-of-famers Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, with Poole often labelled the third splash brother or the splash nephew.
At the same time, the presence of Curry and Thompson often incited the idea that Poole was limited with the Warriors. Clearly he feels that given his reference to having his own team and playing his own type of basketball.
But while there may have been limitations, there was also advantages that are only now bearing evident as he starts out his Washington career. The shooting threat of Curry and Thompson often made things easier for Poole, as it does for practically all their teammates. He no longer has that luxury on a young, rebuilding Wizards roster, and he’s feeling the effects as a result.
Washington is 2-7 on the season — not a surprise but still disappointing. Poole is averaging 16.4 points on 41.7% from the floor and 30% from three-point range — the worst shooting splits since his rookie season. He’s also averaging 2.7 turnovers and the Wizards are -119 during his minutes this season.
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This isn’t meant to degrade Poole, more so that it’s a reminder that in everything in life, including basketball, the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. Having your own team is fine, so long as you’re capable of living up the billing and dealing with the scrutiny when you don’t.
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