Jordan Poole Leaves Door Open To Return ‘home' To Warriors In Offseason

Jordan Poole leaves door open to return ‘home' to Warriors in offseason originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Time might be able to mend all wounds.

The Warriors extended their win streak to eight games with a 138-87 blowout victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday night at Chase Center, the team’s largest margin of victory in a home game since 1991.

On the other side of the beatdown was guard Jordan Poole, Golden State’s first-round pick in the 2019 NBA Draft.

When asked after the game if he would be open to reuniting with the Warriors, Poole appeared enthusiastic about the possibility.

“Yes. It just feels like home, though, you know?” Poole told the San Francisco Standard’s Danny Emerman. “Driving into the f–king arena, crossing the Bay Bridge or wherever you’re coming from, it definitely feels natural. And I think it’s pretty evident, the way that I play is very fitting to how I used to play here. Nothing’s changed, other than the systems that I’m in. We won a championship, you know, so it works. And it did work.

“So to answer your question: Definitely. This is my last year on the deal. I’m a free agent at the end of this season. So you never really know what’s going to happen…But if there’s any place that I’m comfortable, it’s probably where I started.”

Poole was part of the 2022 championship-winning team before being traded to the Washington Wizards after the 2022-23 season as part of a package for veteran guard Chris Paul.

After four seasons away from the Warriors, Poole also said that he missed the way his former team played basketball.

“Hell yeah. Obviously. They play the right way, bro,” Poole said. “They play good basketball. They play team basketball. Obviously, the environment is pretty high-level. Like I said, once you put a lot of work, and you’ve got hardware with an organization, with a team, with a city, you’re kind of cemented in the history. So, it’s good. But do I miss it? Hell yeah.”

The Michigan alum broke out in the 2021-22 season for Golden State, averaging 18.5 points per game on 59.1-percent true shooting in the regular season and scoring 18 points per game on 65.4-percent true shooting in the playoffs.

After helping Golden State win the title, Poole received a four-year, $128 million extension and looked to be a bridge between the team’s veteran trio and the organization’s future.

However, a preseason dispute with teammate Draymond Green seemingly stymied the young guard’s momentum.

Poole averaged just 10.3 points per game and shot 34.1 percent from the field in the 2022-23 playoffs, as the Warriors were eliminated in the second round.

The 27-year-old has struggled to get back on track, averaging 18.8 points for a bottom-tier Wizards team, and his numbers have only declined since landing in New Orleans.

Poole is playing only 19.6 minutes per game, scoring a career-low 6.6 points per game on 19.2-percent shooting from the field and 23.4-percent shooting from the 3-point line.

After the game, Poole called his current situation “pretty f–king difficult” and mentioned the moving pieces around him, including having five coaches in four seasons.

But if the Warriors are open to it, it sounds like Poole would welcome a homecoming after this season.

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast