Washington Wizards guard Jordan Poole has had a difficult last few years, to say the least. In October 2022, the former Golden State Warriors teammate Draymond Green punched Poole in the face in a practice altercation just months after their brilliant playoff run en route to the NBA championship. As expected, the hit ruined the team’s cohesion to the point that the team decided to trade Poole to Wizards in exchange for an aging Chris Paul. That said, Jordan Poole still had time to inspire kids with the same NBA basketball dreams.
A young fan met the Wizards star during the NBA Summer League, and he had plenty of advice for the budding NBA player.
“Keep working hard, bro. Always focus on school but always have fun. Basketball is a super fun game, so keep working and make sure you have a good time,” Poole said. When the kid asked for advice, he added, “Keep going, bro. It’s going to be tough, but it’s always worth it. So if you go to the gym more than anyone else, you’re going to have a good chance.”
From the G League to the Wizards
The Warriors’ 2019 first-round pick spent much of his rookie season in their G League affiliate, where he developed his scoring abilities. Meanwhile, when Klay Thompson was sidelined for the entire 2020-21 season, Poole saw his opportunity and filled in as the team’s starting scoring backup.
As a shoot-first guard, Jordan Poole has improved again his decisive season In 2021-22, he averaged 18.5 points, 4.0 assists and 3.4 rebounds on 44.8% field goal percentages and 36.4% from three-point range. In the playoffs, Poole averaged 17.0 points, 3.8 assists and 2.8 rebounds in 22 games, significantly increasing his shooting percentages to 50.8% field goal percentages and 39.1% from three-point range.
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That punch added to the Warriors’ offensive wattage, helping them win their fourth NBA title in six games over the Boston Celtics. Poole’s terrific playoff run should have added him to the core of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, but the punch came that could have effectively ended the Warrior dynasty, leading to Klay leaves for the Dallas Mavericks.
After the trade, the point guard continued to thrive as the primary scorer on a bad team, but he had to get used to drawing most of the defensive attention. His shooting percentages dropped to a healthy 41.3 percent from the field and 32.6 percent from the three-point line.
Jordan Poole, a highly prolific player, may not have the same power as Curry to lead the Wizards to the playoffs, but he has already proven himself to be a valuable asset who could add value to any team.
