Poole, who has watched his stats get better each time with the Warriors for his fourth season, signs a contract extension. The shooting guard from Michigan averaged 8.5 points on 33% shooting as a rookie and 12.0 points on 43% shooting in 2020–21. Since then he has upped his average to 18.5 points on 45% shooting in the previous season. That was when he assisted the Warriors in winning the NBA championship.
In addition, Poole made 211 3-pointers last season, which ranked 15th in the NBA, and was second on the Warriors behind all-time 3-point shooting champion Stephen Curry. The extension will become effective in 2023–2024. This season, Poole will earn roughly $4 million.
Rising star Poole, who averaged 17 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 3.8 assists throughout the playoffs the previous season, was essential to Golden State’s march to the 2022 championship. Last season, he finished fourth in the NBA’s Most Improved Player voting. The new contract also stops Poole and the Warriors’ turbulent pre-season.
The Green-Poole Saga
Draymond Green, a fellow Warriors player, punched Poole during a practice fight on October 5. A few days later, TMZ received a video clip of the incident. Green missed a couple of days of practice and finally received a fine, but he returned to the squad for the last exhibition game on Friday night and shook hands with Poole before the game.
When the story first surfaced, the Warriors were open about their frustration with Green and their support for Poole, raving about the contributions the 23-year-old had made and undoubtedly will continue to make.
“He’s someone we’re going to rely on for many years to come and that’s exciting,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said earlier this week. “We’ve got a lot of good young players, but Jordan is by far the most advanced.”
For the first four games of the playoffs last year, Poole started in place of Curry, who was making his return from injury. Poole made an excellent impression. In the first three games of the first-round clash against the Denver Nuggets, Poole scored 30, 29, and 27 points, respectively, as the Warriors jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the series.
Poole ultimately finished the playoffs averaging 17.0 points on 51% shooting. Last season, he finished fourth in the NBA’s voting for the most improved player.
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