SAN FRANCISCO — All eyes will be on Jordan Poole in his return to San Francisco on Friday night when his Wizards take on his former team for the first time since the Warriors traded him to Washington.
In his four years with Golden State, Poole made his biggest leap as a key contributor in the Warriors’ 2022 championship run, but wound up an unwitting figure in last season’s dysfunction when Draymond Green punched him during a training camp practice. Coach Steve Kerr expects an ovation for Poole from the Chase Center crowd, but those tuning in for the nationally televised game will be watching for Poole’s revenge.
“I really look at Jordan as a huge success story,” Kerr said. “It doesn’t happen often that the 28th pick works his way up to a key player on a championship team. Life-changing contract, it really couldn’t have gone any better.
“I hate the way it ended. It’s really unfortunate how it all played out. You just wish that things could end on a more positive note and in a more positive way. But it didn’t happen that way.”
Lessening the tension will be Green’s absence from the nationally televised reunion, due to his indefinite suspension. Green punching Poole not only set a championship defense season off-kilter, but was also a major contributor in the Warriors’ decision to swap him for Chris Paul in a stunning offseason trade.
Despite the tension with Green, Poole was close with a handful of Warriors and still keeps in touch with a few. That includes Andrew Wiggins, who calls Poole his “little bro.”
“He’s a joy to be around, he’s a little kid always joking around but one of the hardest workers I’ve seen in the NBA,” Wiggins said. “He’s a great kid, great human and he’s going to do great things.”
Poole’s time in Washington has been cluttered with lowlights from befuddling shot selection, slapstick slips-and-falls and inefficient scoring. He’s averaging 17.4 points per game, well below his 20.4-point average last season shooting 32% from 3 in 29 minutes per game. But he has had a pair of 30-point games and an 8-for-13 shooting night from 3 in a loss to the Sacramento Kings.
Related Articles
Warriors’ trade of Jordan Poole ‘tore something out of his heart,’ former coach says
Kurtenbach: The Warriors’ two-timeline plan is back in action, and it’s a sight to behold
Does Steph Curry belong in the GOAT conversation? Shaq says yes
How ‘hero’ Chris Paul set up Steph Curry for Warriors’ wild game-sealing shot
Inside Jackson-Davis’ momentum-shifting block on Brown in Warriors’ win over Celtics
Wiggins and Kerr expect Poole to turn it up against his former team out of natural competitor’s instinct. Wiggins had some of his best games against the Minnesota Timberwolves, who traded him to Golden State in 2020. Kerr remembers that feeling, having played for six different teams in his NBA career.
“Every time I played my old team, it was a big night,” Kerr said. “It wasn’t out of resentment. You’re just naturally fired up. You want to put on a good show and remind your old team what they’re missing. Just naturally when you play your old team you want to do your best, look your best. As a coach, I like to make sure I play guys against their old teams because they often play well. So I think Jordan is going to come out and play really well against us.”
Notes
A return is on the horizon for Gary Payton II, who strained his calf on Nov. 28 and resumed some team practice activities. He will be reevaluated early next week.
Friday’s game against the Wizards is the first of a back-to-back for Golden State with the Portland Trail Blazers visiting on Saturday. Then the Warriors depart for Denver to take on the Nuggets on Christmas.
