Welcome to the Poole Party

Why Jordan Poole could be this year’s Most Improved Player

By: Lauren Green

10/24/21

Jordan Poole, a 6-foot-4 Michigan product drafted by the Golden State Warriors in 2019, has been turning heads in the NBA. With his preseason performances and his season opener in the Staples Center against the Los Angeles Lakers, the 28th pick in the draft could win this year’s Most Improved Player.

Many Warriors fans and basketball nerds who’ve been keeping up with Poole the last few months know that there’s been a strong foundation built for the guard to perform well this year, but not everyone is completely sold on him yet, even with his fast rise to MIP rankings on betting sites.

After this year’s preseason ended, Poole launched into the rankings as the most popular bet for the award. Poole currently has the highest betting handle and most tickets placed within the online sportsbook BetMGM for MIP just from his preseason run. During the Warriors’ 5-0 preseason sweep, Poole’s rep was further established not only on the court with his teammates, but in the eyes of the fans, too. While playing around 22 minutes per game, Poole averaged about 22 points, 3.4 rebounds and three assists. Poole was not only effective offensively with these numbers, but also in ways you wouldn’t see from looking at a stat sheet.

He was quick to score off transition plays, created great spacing on the floor, and navigated the Warriors’ noted style of play of great ball movement. Not only did he execute in these ways, but he looked confident while doing it.
Whether it was finishing at the basket with great touch and a big presence of LeBron James near the basket, or driving the ball with assurance and finishing with a powerful dunk, Poole executed and carried himself like a true Warrior.

Poole looked like a big missing offensive piece that the Warriors’ have needed in their backcourt, especially with Klay Thompson’s extended absence.

These preseason stats and performances are usually taken with a grain of salt but for players like Poole, it’s an accurate representation of what potential lies ahead during the regular season. Only two games into the regular season, Poole’s preseason expectations have shown to be true, despite a quieter performance against the Los Angeles Clippers, which is not uncommon for a young 22-year-old player on the rise.

Poole’s offensive efficiency during the season opener against the Lakers is where a lot of his potential was displayed. It wasn’t about the 20 points Poole scored to help defeat the Lakers, 121-114, but how he adjusted his game to get those points.

Poole started with an off night but was still able to notch those 20 points, three assists, and two rebounds late in the game to help secure the win. This charge from Poole occurred mostly in the third quarter. He also helped lead this push for Golden State while Stephen Curry rested more in the fourth quarter. Poole was 4 of 11 from beyond the arc.

Poole’s stat line wasn’t the most important element for that game, but more of a supplement to show how the young guard struggled early on, readjusted, and found his groove on one of the biggest stages in basketball — the Staples Center.

Poole was a small product of the Santa Cruz Warriors — Golden State’s G League affiliate. He played in 11 games during his G League stint where he averaged 22.4 points and around 33 minutes of play during the 2020-2021 season. The growth he had in the G League translated immensely into his play in the NBA and is something worth noting as his role is a key piece to the Warriors winning this season.

The difference between Poole and other candidates for MIP is that Poole is filling in offensively for a huge role for the Warriors that will last a few months before Thompson returns. Michael Porter Jr., forward for the Denver Nuggets, is another leading candidate for this award.

Although the Nuggets are awaiting their star, Jamal Murray, to return from injury as well, Porter Jr. supplements Murray and last season’s MVP Nikola Jokić, in different ways than Poole’s role will be for the Warriors.

Some of Poole’s edge is that he played in the G League for 11 games last year to develop — something Porter Jr. did not have to do. Porter Jr. should produce very well for the Nuggets this year, something the Nuggets believe, too, with his new contract extension, but if Poole lives up to his expectations this season, his accolades and G League history should be enough to justify him winning MIP.

When Thompson makes his return in a few months, Poole’s role will evolve as Warriors coach Steve Kerr will make adjustments to their rotation, but whatever rotation that might be, Poole will complement Stephen Curry and Thompson in a tremendous way.

Even when Poole has his off nights, which he will, he is in great care and leadership with the likes of Curry, Thompson, Draymond Green, and Andre Iguodala. It’s undeniable that Poole fits like a glove for the Warriors in this new generation occurring in Golden State under the guidance of these veterans.

Whether he’s pulling up deep from 30 feet out in a very Warriors-esque way or helping maintain a game when Curry or Thompson are resting on the sidelines, Poole’s role will evolve with the same goal in mind — to help the Warriors make it out of the West as NBA Championship contenders.