NFL
By: Mark T. Wilson
One injury is all it takes for everything to change. The Golden State Warriors walked away as champs for the 2021-22 NBA season and with that, came a ton of questions. One of the main ones was, what to do about Jordan Poole? Prior to last season, that answer was easy. Keep riding the core of the Big 3 and see how many titles they can win with what they had.
Klay Thompson began the season still recovering from an injury that put the microscope on Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Andrew Wiggins. But no one, and I mean no one was thinking about Poole. In 2021, Poole was sent down to the G-league after struggling in his first two seasons and that’s when it all begin to click for him. While in the Minors, Poole would average 22.4 points but most importantly, he would regain his confidence.
But this is further proof as to why the Warriors have one of the best front offices in the NBA. Imagine being a first-round pick on a team with Curry, Green, Thompson, and Wiggins. Where is the opportunity for you to shine? Poole had to wait his turn and once he got his shot, well, the rest is history.
In the first half of the 2022-23 season, the Warriors rode the hot hands of Wiggins and Curry and were just trying to hold off the hounds until Thompson returned. But then they were hit with a gift and a curse. Poole exploded. He started 51 games last season and averaged 18.5 points while shooting .448 from the floor. Yes, 18.5 points from a player who served his time in the G-League and now is playing significant minutes with a championship contender. What pressure?
For Poole, this was his moment to prove everyone wrong but to also prove himself right. He knew he had the talent to make it, it was just getting that opportunity. Many believed that Poole should have walked away with The Most Improved Player Award last season. While he didn’t, his teammates understood just how valuable he was to them. In sports, the motto is “next man up” but what happens when that next man becomes the best man?
Jordan Poole Is Ready
Next season, the Golden State Warriors will need to prove just how valuable Poole is to their continued success. Poole will be in need of a new contract at the end of this season. Thompson’s contract is set to expire in 2024 and while they have had success, Thompson has been slowed a bit by injuries. Do they beat the Boston Celtics without Thompson? Maybe not, but he’s not getting any younger either.
By the time his contract expires, Thompson will be 34 years old. Are the Warriors willing to pay him over $40M per season for 18 points per game? Green has already stated he’s looking for a Max Deal and the Warriors may look elsewhere given the young talent they have on their roster. Curry is a mainstay with the team but Poole, he could very easily slide right next to Curry in the backcourt and take over the departed role in the Splash Brothers.
No Warriors’ fan wants to hear anything regarding the breakup of their dynasty. But all good things must come to an end. Jordan Poole has more than proven that he’s capable of putting up numbers. However, his next contract will hinge on what he does this season. If he continues to produce, the Warriors will have a tough decision to make.
