SAN FRANCISCO — Jordan Poole became a hot topic of discussion this week in Warriors land.
On Wednesday, he was on the receiving end of a vicious punch from teammate Draymond Green during a practice altercation. On Sunday, the Warriors finally got back to a game atmosphere and Poole was cooking.
The fourth-year guard dominated the final few minutes of the third quarter en route to a team-high 25 points, one more than superstar Steph Curry, in a 124-121 preseason loss against the Los Angeles Lakers. Poole also got a shoutout from Nets star Kevin Durant for this saucy move.
Poole mesmerized Dub Nation during a stretch that showcased his shooting stroke and his handle, as he scored 11 straight points in the span of 2:43. His sweetest move of the night featured a shake at the 3-point line then a behind-the-back move. He might have traveled, but the refs didn’t call it.
"I've been avoiding playing one-on-one with him because he's got a lot better," center Kevon Looney said. "We debated if it was a travel or not, but they didn't call it, so I guess it wasn't."
Looney also relayed Andre Iguodala's reaction on the bench, who initially called the move "cold." Perhaps Poole didn't travel because he executed a move that Looney never heard before Thursday's scrimmage.
"We had a ref in the scrimmage say it was something called a 'zero step,'" Looney said, shaking his head with a smile. "Hey, man, that's exactly what we said, 'Can you describe that for us?' Refs, that's the reason you get paid. They know the rules better than we do."
Whatever you call it, the move still looked sweet.
Poole went 7-for-9 from the field for 18 points while playing the entire third quarter, and he also dished out three of his six assists along the way.
Despite all the hoop-free hoopla surrounding Poole and the Dubs Sunday night, he responded with gusto.
New Warriors guard Donte DiVincenzo noticed that the Lakers couldn't stop Poole when there was a high screen available to him near the 3-point line. So he kept going to the well, and Poole kept splashing.
It was only a preseason game, but Poole didn't shrink under the pressure of the past few days.
"He's a professional," DiVincenzo said. "He knows what to do when he comes to work."
Back up the Brinks truck, because Poole could be getting a nine-figure contract extension in the neighborhood of four years, $120 million soon. The Warriors have until Oct. 17 to sign him to a rookie contract extension unless they want to risk losing him via restricted free agency next year.
"There's a reason why Jordan is where he is right now," coach Steve Kerr said. "Especially where you consider where he was coming out of Michigan as a late first-round pick, and struggling his first few months in the league. There’s a reason he’s in this position, about to sign a big extension hopefully. The guy’s tough. He’s just mentally tough. He’s physically tough. He's ultra confident in his game and he showed it tonight.”
Draymond didn't appear in the game as he continues to stay away from the team due to a mutual decision with the Warriors to give Poole and his teammates space. Earlier this week, Draymond admitted he created an "elephant in the room" heading into the opening night on Oct. 18 against the Lakers, when both players' families will be the house for ring night.
