Jordan Poole’s ascension was huge for the Warriors last season, who won the championship after struggling for two years. Poole was so impressive, in fact, that he earned a massive contract from the Warriors, who viewed him as the future of the team. Fast forward to today, however, and Poole has fallen hard from his glory days. Besides the fact that he’s a liability on defense and likes to turn the ball over with bone-headed mistakes, Poole has been a model of inconsistency all season long, and his play in this series against the Lakers has been so bad he’s been relegated to the bench.
But according to FOX Sports analyst Colin Cowherd, the problem may not actually be Poole, but rather the fact that Poole has to play in the shadow of Stephen Curry.
“Jordan Poole is very talented, I just wonder about the fit. The Warriors’ system demands a lot. It’s demanding, it’s structured, it’s smart, it’s intuitive. Loose guys, like D’Angelo Russell, they couldn’t get him out of there fast enough. Jordan Poole, driving everybody crazy… if you look at Jordan Poole’s numbers, with Curry playing he averages 16 a game. Without Curry, he averages 26. Jordan Poole needs to be the man — not the guy subbing in for the man. He doesn’t fit, but he would start and be a 25 PPG player for 90% of this league.”
Jordan Poole with Steph: 16.6 PPG
Jordan Poole without Steph: 26.1 PPG
"He needs to be the man — not the guy subbing in for the man… He would start and be a 25 PPG player for 90% of this league." — @ColinCowherd pic.twitter.com/Q47BtJIh72
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) May 10, 2023
Poole’s inconsistency has been flat-out ridiculous, and even his own teammates are starting to call him out for it after the games. Now down 3-1 against the Lakers, the season is very much on the line for the defending champs, and all eyes will be on Poole to see how he responds to his struggles.
Jordan Poole Has Been M.I.A. In The 2023 Playoffs
The Dubs showed signs of their cracks even before the season began. Remember, it was only a few months ago that Draymond punched Poole in the face, and we still haven’t had a proper explanation for what went down.
Whether or not that incident is affecting Poole, it’s clear that something needs to give for this Warriors team to have success and if Jordan doesn’t rise to the occasion on Wednesday, there are going to be some serious questions about his value on the team.
“Jordan Poole. Last time I checked, he gets a check,” said Stephen A. Smith. “Last time I checked, he wears a Golden State uniform just like the rest of the team. Last time I checked, he’s on the team bus, he gets into the team hotel, he gets that per diem, he gets those mils. He’s got a salary, a $140 million contract. He got his bag, where the hell he been?”
We might get the chance to see how Poole does on his own next season, but it’s hard to see what kind of impact he makes if he continues to ignore his responsibilities on the defensive end.
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