Jordan Poole has never been one to bite his tongue, but his latest comments will certainly raise some eyebrows. At New Orleans Pelicans media day, Poole was asked about reuniting with Kevon Looney, his former Golden State Warriors teammate. His response? A thinly veiled jab at the big men he played alongside during his Washington Wizards stint.
“I’m super excited. I haven’t had a good screen in two years.”
On the surface, it might have seemed like a lighthearted comment. But considering the long list of frontcourt players Poole shared the floor with in Washington: Marvin Bagley III, Trey Jemison, Mike Muscala, Richaun Holmes, Alex Sarr, Jonas Valanciunas, Tristan Vukcevic, and Daniel Gafford, it was hard not to see it as a dig.
The Wizards cycled through big men with very different skill sets, yet none of them developed much chemistry with Poole in pick-and-roll actions. Even Gafford, arguably Washington’s best screener, only logged 43 games with Poole before being shipped to Dallas at the 2024 trade deadline. Rookie Alex Sarr, the No. 2 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, barely had time to grow into the role.
Now, Poole heads to New Orleans with a fresh start. Traded to the Pelicans in a three-team deal, the 25-year-old guard is coming off his best scoring season yet: 20.5 points, 4.5 assists, and 3.0 rebounds per game, shooting 43.2 percent from the field and 37.8 percent from three.
The numbers show that Poole can still fill it up, but what will matter most in New Orleans is how he scores and whether he can fit into a system that already has established stars.
This isn’t Washington, where he could jack up shots at will on a rebuilding roster. The Pelicans, even after a disastrous 21-61 campaign plagued by injuries, expect to compete. With Dejounte Murray, Zion Williamson, and Trey Murphy III forming a solid core, New Orleans is looking for efficiency and composure, not chaotic heat checks.
Poole’s comments about his screens are telling because they highlight one of the biggest shifts in his game environment. With Looney in Golden State, Poole thrived on reliable pick-and-roll and dribble handoff actions that freed him for clean looks.
In Washington, the offense was often clunky, and his reliance on tough, contested shots grew. He may feel like he was left stranded without the kind of big-man support he once enjoyed.
But in the Western Conference, there’s no margin for excuses. The Pelicans need Poole to mesh quickly. Every team outside of Utah looks competitive, with defending champions and legitimate contenders stacked across the board. A scoring guard who doesn’t defend or adapt won’t last long in this environment.
The upside?
If Poole truly buys in, his shooting and creativity can be the spark New Orleans lacked last season. Surrounded by Murray’s defense, Zion’s inside dominance, and Murphy’s spacing, he won’t have to do everything himself. Still, his comment was a reminder of the thin line he walks between confidence and controversy.
For now, Pelicans fans will hope his fresh start means more than just soundbites and that his reunion with quality screeners leads to efficiency, not excuses.
