It was a rough loss for the Warriors on Saturday night against the Grizzlies, but during the game, the meteoric rise of guard Jordan Poole continued unabated.
Filling in for injured superstar guard Stephen Curry for the second-straight contest, Poole notched 26 points, five assists and four rebounds on 10-for-21 shooting. Per the Warriors PR department, the performance added up to another career milestone for Poole.
Note that the team’s PR department is quick. They tweeted this accomplishment as soon as Poole crossed the 20-point threshold.
The second-year player out of Michigan, a first-round pick of general manager Bob Myers in 2019, is filling up the scoring column and displaying an all-around game, too. Per Anthony Slater of The Athletic, Poole has 18 assists and just two turnovers over his last seven games.
That should alleviate any concerns from coach Steve Kerr about Poole’s ability to play either guard position. Previously, he played Poole alongside rookie point guard Nico Mannion, so Poole wouldn’t have to play distributor.
Poole’s rise from a shaky rookie to a playmaking, shot-making dynamo has taken the team by storm, and that includes Kerr. When asked if Poole’s role off the bench will expand when Curry returns, the coach responded with a simple, “Yes.”
It’s easy to see why. Look at how easily Poole makes this difficult layup look.
In a season of transition in Golden State, Poole is fast becoming one of the largest stories of the campaign. It will be fascinating to watch how Kerr utilizes his ability moving forward, especially in how much he plays alongside another young and talented Warrior, rookie center James Wiseman.
But if Poole’s role is to be cemented, Curry needs to return as soon as possible. Until he does, however, it appears Poole can fill in for him at least adequately. That in itself tells the story of Poole’s meteoric rise that is still playing out before DubNation’s eyes.
(Photo credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports)
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