Jordan Poole signed a four-year, $140 million extension with the Golden State Warriors this summer.
The underlying assumption made by all parties involved was that he would continue evolving and improving as a player.
Thus far in 2022-23, that hasn’t happened.
Poole is coming off an eight-point showing against the Los Angeles Clippers this week where he went 3-of-15 from the field and missed all eight threes he took.
For the season Poole is averaging 15.8 points per game on 41.1 percent shooting from the field and 30.9 percent shooting from beyond the arc.
Compare that to his 18.5 points per game on 44.8 percent shooting from the field and 36.4 percent shooting from beyond the arc in 2021-22, and you see why frustration is building.
Recently, Klay Thompson spoke out bluntly about Poole’s struggles.
“I just tell him I’ve been there, many times,” Thompson said, per NBC Sports. “Every season that’s happened to me.
“I just tell him to play with great intentions, play with that great confidence and he will have a 36-point game again on 20 shots. He’s too great of a player not to.”
Thompson knows firsthand how the doubts can start creeping in when your shots aren’t falling. And much in the same way Stephen Curry remained confident in him, he remains confident in Poole.
“We play 100 games a year,” Thompson continued.
“There’s going to be stretches where you’re not your best, there’s going to be stretches where you’re unstoppable. It’s just about staying even-keel through it all. I just tell JP to lean on his teammates, because I know what it’s like to shoot 3-for-14 or 4-for-18. It’s not fun.
“You take great pride in your game. It hurts. You go to home that night and you just don’t feel good, even when you win, because you feel like you let your teammates down. You want to play better and you kind of get in your own way. I’m a culprit of that and I love JP.”
Given some of the beef that has existed between Thompson and Poole over the past few months, it is nice that the team can rally like this.
— Game 7 (@game7__) November 26, 2022
Obviously Poole will get it together at some point.
When will it happen, though?
Time will tell.
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Charles Kruger has been credentialed to cover two Super Bowls, four NBA Finals, and one World Series. A 20-year veteran in the sports world, he has sources spanning the NBA, MLB, NFL, UFC and NASCAR. Currently residing in Los Angeles, Calif., he is Game 7’s go-to source for rumors surrounding the Lakers, Clippers and Dodgers.
