Basketball superstar Steph Curry still believes that Jordan Poole is the key to the future of the Golden State Warriors, no matter how uncertain that future may be.
This is despite Poole failing to meet expectations in the 2022-2023 season following his breakout season in 2021-2022. He struggled to find his rhythm this season and failed to make much of an impact.
Naturally, he faces a lot of scrutiny for his performance, including his altercation with Draymond Green. Despite all that, Curry believes that the team’s future is in the hands of Poole.
“He’s the key,” Curry said after Game 5.
The Ringer’s Logan Murdock made the observation that as the veteran players struggled this year, the younger players stepped up.
“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.”
This year, Poole’s role varied but he managed to average 17 points per game with 50.8 percent shooting from their field.
Poole himself is confident that he will be back with the Warriors next season, telling Murdock in an interview: “I don’t know why I wouldn’t be [back].”
“It wasn’t a bad year. I mean, career highs in two categories. I was able to make history with Klay Thompson and Steph. My first game-winner. It was a lot of good things that happened this season. It wasn’t a bad season.”
“Yes, I’m in the fabric. Yes, I belong here in this organization, bridging the gap. And I’m a young guy who was drafted here. We won a championship last year, and we have another chance to do it again. And I don’t know why anybody else would feel otherwise. I don’t think anybody is thinking like that.”
