Golden State Warriors: Top 3 standouts from the 2019 summer league
By Justin Fried
2. Jordan Poole
Jordan Poole is looking to buck a recent trend of Warriors first-rounders who did very little in their first season with the team. And while he still has a long way to go with his overall game, the potential is certainly there.
Poole got off to a rough start shooting just 4-of-20 throughout the California Classic but picked up the pace significantly once the team moved to Las Vegas. The Michigan product averaged 17.8 points per game in Vegas and looked the part on the wing.
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Watching Poole, a couple of things become immediately apparent. His confidence is certainly not lacking, he’s got swagger for days, and he’s not afraid to shoot the ball. Given that the Warriors bench often looked hesitant with the ball in their hands last season, that’s a welcome change of pace.
There will be rookie mistakes on offense and Poole still has a long way to go as an on-ball defender, but you have to admire his tenacity and confidence as a player.
On top of that, the potential is there on the defensive side of the floor as he averaged 2.3 steals per game in Vegas showing off his length and tendency to move into passing lanes. His ability to get around screens regularly remains a major weakness, however.
Ultimately, Poole showed glimpses of the player he could be and also presented reminders of the player he still is. But for a young player participating in his first summer league, you have to be impressed with how Poole played.