Jordan Poole dropped a season-high 42 points last night against the San Antonio Spurs.
The scoring outburst was his highest since he joined the Wizards and was one point away from tying his career-high. It seems that everyone owes Poole an apology.
https://twitter.com/WashWizards/status/1857108297209295055
Poole’s first season in Washington came with a lot of expectations, but was left with a lot of disappointment. He averaged 17 points on 41% shooting in 78 games. In the 12 games he came off the bench under then-interim head coach, Brian Keefe, he played better.
Coming off the bench as a spark plug was his role for the Golden State Warriors, and that seemed to work to close out last season. Now, Poole is the starting point guard and has the ball in his hands more. Averaging a career-high 22 points per game, he is finally becoming the star he desired to become when he came to D.C.
2023-24 Season:
Poole was under a lot of pressure last season with all the situations he was going through.
There was the constant talk about the Draymond Green incident. Then there was the expectations becoming the go-to guy with his new team. There was also the process of going from a dynasty to a rebuilding team. That is a lot for a player to handle. But credit to him accepting whatever situation was thrown his way and working with it.
This season, he is looked at as a leader for a team full of young guys looking to make a name for themselves in the league. Although he is a vet for these players, at 25 years old, Poole is still pretty young himself. From a G-League player, to a rotation guy, to being a main scoring threat on a championship team, Poole has worked this way up.
Expectations:
Media and players alike had the expectation that Poole would become a star last season.
He showed flashes on a stacked Warriors team that he can be the guy. In the five-game first round series in 2022 championship run, Poole was the starting point guard as Stephen Curry was coming back from an injury. He averaged 21 points. The thought of his offensive brilliance would blossom on a new team wasn’t a far fetched idea.
Last night, he showed that offensive talent with an arsenal of crafty lay-ups, deep-range shooting, and elusive ball handling to get the defense on their heels:
Defense:
Not only is he averaging career highs across the board, Poole has improved his effort on the defensive end as well. He is currently second in the league in steals with 2.3 per game. Poole has been making the reads to create extra possessions for his squad. Steals aren’t the only measure of a good defender, but Poole’s ability on the perimeter is a far cry from a few years back.
Poole has a legimaite shot at the All-Star team if he keeps up this all-around play. Yes, the Wizards will have to avoid slipping too far down the standings. Team success aside, it’s not unreasonable for Poole to be in the All-Star conversation with the season he’s having.
With the Al-Star talk this season, it’s wild to think people were saying he should be oujt of the league at this time last season.
Those haters owe Poole an apology.
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