The Inspiring Journey of NBA star Jordan Poole
American Basketball star Jordan Poole has shown the world in the last few years that he can become one of the biggest stars in NBA history.
Poole is a Washington Wizards player in the NBA and began to make strides for the professional level in 2019.
Nicknamed ‘Poole Party’, Jordan Poole was drafted by the Golden State Warriors in the first round of 2019, and at only 25 years old, he has gone on to show incredible character and has an NBA title, which he won in 2022.
Here is a look into his uprising yet impressive career in the NBA and the impact he is making on the new generation.
Early Days and Exploits in College
Jordan Poole enrolled at the Rusfus King High School in Wisconsin and was not initially a regular starter but featured in games as he was considered a remarkable talent at the time.
However, he received an offer in 2017 after he visited Michigan for a football game, and became the first commitment for the class of 2017 after visits and offers from Michigan State.
He was ranked 2nd overall prospect and 1st ranked shooting guard in the national class of 2016, as he was a 2016 WBCA All-State Boys Basketball first team-selection.
Media outlets soon began to rate him highly, and he then joined Michigan State on a three-year scholarship.
In College, Jordan Poole introduced himself with an impressive performance on his debut in Michigan’s 69-56 win over Indiana with 19 points.
He continued the season in fine form and went on to rack up impressive numbers towards the end of the campaign.
Poole on March 17 in the 2018 NCAA tournament secured the game-winning buzzer-beater three-point shot that won his side the match over Houston in a dramatic 64-63 win.
That was Michigan’s fourth Sweet 16 in six years, and Poole’s shot then got described by many as identical to his buzzer beater in the Dick’s National Championship game.
Jordan Poole also continued his great run of form in his sophomore season in 2018/19.
He was recognized as a Big Ten Player of the Week for his performance against Purdue and North Carolina as he contributed to 40 points in both games.
In the early months of 2019, he was honored as an All-Big Ten Honorable mention selection by the coaches and the media for his impact on his team and the game at the youth level.
The summer of 2019 became the transition to the professional level. Jordan Poole was drafted the 28th overall pick in the first round of the 2019 draft by the Golden State Warriors.
Professional Years and the NBA Championship
He made his debut for the Warriors against the Los Angeles Clippers in the 2019/20 season after he signed a three-year contract worth $6.2 million.
Coming off the bench on his debut, he managed to grab five points, two assists and a steal and went on to feature in many games for the Warriors.
However, Poole was assigned to the Santa Cruz Warriors in the NBA G League after he joined the Warriors and had to serve two seasons away from home before becoming an integral member of the team in 2021.
On his return in 2021, Klay Thompson secured an injury and it made room for Poole to begin to make strides regularly in a Warriors shirt.
He went on to set a then career-high 38 points in a win over the New Orleans Pelicans, and a season after, he secured his place as the starting shooting guard for the Warriors as Thompson continued his recovery.
When Thompson returned, he was often deployed in a point guard role in a three-guard system alongside Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson.
That season, he edged Curry as the NBA annual free throw percentage leader and was nominated for the NBA Most Improved Player award.
He then went on to win his first NBA championship when the Warriors beat the Boston Celtics with a season average of 17 points.
In the summer of 2023, Jordan Poole was traded to the Washington Wizards in exchange for Chris Paul.
Poole has since held on to his role as one of the key players for the Wizards and finished his first year there with a season-high 31 points.
Jordan Poole’s dedication and ball-handling skills have worked the trick for him over the years, and he is now seen as an inspiration for many young talents in American Basketball.
READ ALSO: Ja’Marr Chase: Stats, Highlights, and Rise of the Bengals’ Star Wide Receiver
Here are some of Jordan Poole’s career records and titles.
◦ 2022 NBA Champion
◦ 2021 All-NBA G League Third Team