This weekend was a momentous one for Golden State Warriors guard Jordan Poole. He signed a rookie extension with the team, agreeing to a four-year, $140 million deal. Anyone that has been watching Poole throughout his NBA career knows that it was a long road to reaching this point.
The Michigan product was one of the worst players in the NBA his rookie season as he struggled to produce consistently. He was shuttled back and forth between the G League and NBA, but he didn’t let that deter him as he worked tirelessly to improve his game.
“Obviously this is life-changing for Jordan and his family,” coach Steve Kerr said of Poole, who toiled through the G League as a rookie in the pandemic-interrupted season of 2019-20. “Pretty remarkable. You’re right, I never would have guessed it. His rookie year, he was lost, quite frankly. Most rookies are.”
The COVID-19 pandemic made an already difficult transition as a rookie that much tougher. Alas, the hard work paid off last season, as Poole was an integral part of the team’s success, as they won the NBA Championship in June.
“It wouldn’t have been as special if we didn’t win a championship,” said Poole, who credited his “mental toughness” and faith for overcoming any obstacle that comes his way.
LATEST NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Jordan Poole, Draymond Green & Golden State Warriors Updates
Another obstacle was placed in front of him recently. Poole and teammate Draymond Green got into a verbal spat, which is nothing new for those two and rather commonplace around the NBA, especially during training camp. But, their confrontation escalated when things became physical.
Poole and Green went chest-to-chest with each other, which led to Poole shoving Green away. What happened next was certainly unexpected as Green swung at Poole and connected with a punch.
LATEST NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Jordan Poole, Draymond Green & Golden State Warriors Updates
It was an ugly incident to read about but things got worse when a video of the scuffle was leaked. That is something Green has apologized profusely for and Poole is ready to move on and put it behind him.
“He apologized, and we plan on handling ourselves that way, we’re going to play basketball,” Poole said Sunday in his first public remarks since the fight and after video leaked from the incident. “Everybody in the locker room and on our team knows what it takes to win a championship and we’re going to do that on the court. That’s really all I have to say on the matter, we’re here to win a championship and keep hanging banners.”
Business as usual for Poole, who wants to help the Warriors win another championship as soon as possible. He is locked in with the team for the future, along with Andrew Wiggins, who signed an extension of his own hours after Poole’s was announced.
LATEST NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Jordan Poole, Draymond Green & Golden State Warriors Updates
Those two are part of the franchise’s foundation going forward. The same cannot be said, at least right now, for Green, as the Warriors will not be signing him to the max contract he seeks.
