Jordan Poole was already having a breakout season for the Golden State Warriors when he served as a placeholder for Klay Thompson in the team’s starting lineup. However, what he’s been doing for over a month is a different kind of balling.
Since March 3, Poole has 20+ points in 17 straight contests, a streak that puts him in a league in the annals of the Warriors with the likes of Wilt Chamberlain, Rick Barry, Chris Mullin, Steph Curry and Kevin Durant.
However, if you ask former Dubs Big Man-turned-team advisor Zaza Pachulia, Poole’s explosion is something that’s been brewing for a while. “After [G League] Bladder, his confidence was through the roof,” Pachulia said during his recent appearance on 95.7 The Game The morning roast.
However, that’s not all Pachulia said. The two-time NBA champion went on to explain that Poole should take home one of the league’s most important year-end awards for his efforts this season.
Referring to Poole’s incredible run in the aforementioned period – during which he averaged 26.4 points per game as team leader – and throughout the campaign, Pachulia pointed out that the 22-year-old is not a one-trick pony. In fact, he’s gotten better across the board.
“He’s improved in every category; Scoring, the rebound, the assists, the field goal percentage, the three point percentage, the free throw percentage,” Pachulia said. “He’s improved so much from previous years.”
In addition, Poole has developed into someone who opponents have to create a game plan for every night.
“Talking to other players from different teams, from opposing teams… he earned the respect of the other players. So in this league it’s very, very important to be respected by your opponents. He’s always at the top of the opposing team’s scouting list.”
As such, Zaza officially endorses Poole as a MIP.
“I don’t know what else they call star status, but obviously – hopefully – he’s going to win the Most Improved Player of the Year title and he deserves it given his stats and everything he’s done this year Has.”
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Despite the fact that Golden State has won back-to-back games and appears to be shaking off some of its recent troubles, the club actually fell down the Four-Letter Network’s Week 25 Power Rankings.
After peaking at seventh last week, the Warriors checked in at No. 8 in the most recent update, just behind the Sixers at No. 6 and the Mavs at No. 7. ESPN’s Nick Friedell wrote:
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