Jordan Poole will make his San Francisco return Friday night. The 4-22 Wizards will travel to Chase Center to face a 13-14 Warriors team that has won three-straight games for the first time this season.
It sets up a favorable matchup and what Steve Kerr and the Warriors hope and expect will be a warm reception for Poole.
Kerr joined Willard and Dibs Wednesday to discuss Poole's homecoming. He went back to Poole's rough, early days in the NBA, expressing his pride at what the former 28th overall pick has accomplished in his young career.
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“Well number one, I’m excited for him because I know our fans are going to give him an enormous ovation," Kerr said. "And he deserves that. He’s a champion. We don’t win that championship in 2022 without Jordan.
He played a huge role here. He's an unbelievable success story, 28th pick in the draft. He played that first year that I referenced when we had the worst record in the league. We really threw him into the deep end. He wasn't ready, took his lumps, then just went to work.
He put in so much great work and turned himself into the player that he's become. Our fans, they recognize all of that, and so do all of our players and coaches, so we're going to welcome Jordan back with open arms on Friday, and we're excited to see him."
Kerr discussed a host of other topics, including Shaq asking whether Stephen Curry should be in the NBA's GOAT debate. Watch the full interview below:
Poole, 24, was sent to Washington along with Patrick Baldwin Jr., Ryan Rollins, a 2027 second-round pick, a 2030 first-round pick (top-20 protected) and cash considerations in exchange for the 38-year-old Chris Paul.
The trade came after a decline in Poole's shooting numbers, and before the first year of his four-year, $128 million extension. His shooting numbers have decreased again this year, from a 44.8 FG/36.4 3-pt percentage split in 2021-22, to a 43%/33.6% split in 2022-23, and a 41.6%/32.5% split this season.
Paul, meanwhile, is on what could be in the penultimate or final year of a deal with some contract flexibility. While it's the third year of a four-year, $120 million deal and is making $30.8 million this season, his $30 million salary next year is non-guaranteed, essentially making it a team option.
The veteran has come off the bench for the first time in his career this season (seven starts in 24 games), averaging a career-low 8.5 points, 7.6 assists and 3.8 rebounds per game on 39.6%/31.4% shooting splits in a career-low 27.5 minutes per game.
Golden State opted for a veteran guard on a shorter-term deal and are having mixed results thus far. There will obviously be a spotlight on both Poole and Paul Friday night.