Steph Curry believes Jordan Poole ‘key’ to Warriors’ uncertain future

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Steph believes Poole is ‘key’ to Warriors’ uncertain future originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea

It’s safe to say Warriors guard Jordan Poole fell short of expectations during the 2022-23 NBA season.

After his breakout 2021-22 campaign that included a historic playoff debut, Poole struggled to find his shot at times this season and failed to make much of an impact in the postseason.

But despite the increased attention and scrutiny Poole faced due to his up-and-down performance — as well as his preseason altercation with teammate Draymond Green — Warriors superstar Steph Curry believes the franchise’s future is in Poole’s hands.

Curry recently made that clear to The Ringer’s Logan Murdock, who asked the two-time NBA MVP how Golden State can bridge the gap between the team’s current core and its uncertain future.

“He’s the key,” Curry told Murdock after Game 5 of the Western Conference semifinals, pointing to Poole’s locker. Murdock wrote that the Warriors guard said it loud enough “for all to hear.”

It’s a strong statement from Curry, especially given the reported state of the Warriors’ two-timeline approach. Murdock relayed exactly how divided things were this season in his reporting.

“This season, however, when veterans struggled, Golden State’s young players grumbled that they weren’t getting enough opportunities,” Murdock wrote. “And when the young’uns complained about inconsistent playing time, veterans scratched their heads, wondering why their tales of yesteryear weren’t resonating. The departures of [Otto] Porter [Jr.], [Juan] Toscano-Anderson, and [Gary] Payton [II] — three figures in the locker room who had the respect of both the young players and the veterans — further widened the divide.”

Poole’s role varied this season, and he seemed to prove his worth by averaging 28 points in 11 games while Curry dealt with a shoulder injury. But he was relegated back to the bench upon the star’s return, and there was inconsistency in the playoffs, too.

Poole averaged 17.0 points per game on 50.8-percent shooting from the field and 39.1 percent from behind the 3-point line during the Warriors’…

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Author : NBC Sports BayArea

Publish date : 2023-05-15 22:31:35

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