The $5.6 billion team that was the “worst pick in NBA Draft History” was able to win its seventh championship.
Jordan Poole’s selection by the Golden State Warriors in the 2019 NBA Draft drew a lot of criticism; some even dubbed it the worst selection in draught history.
The Heatles were right about the Golden State Warriors for the 2016–2019 season. A club with a fantastic leader in the guard position added a star player to become the league’s best team. Kevin Durant entered the team after Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green had already established a culture and began to produce results.
Without KD, the Warriors only won one chip; however, after his entry, they have won two chips in three years (injuries prevented the first three-peat since the Kobe-Shaq Lakers).
But for them, the summer of 2019 was a period of ambiguity. After getting hurt, Kevin Durant moved his skills to Brooklyn. After Klay Thompson had an injury, they signed him to a maximum deal.
Choosing for Drafts
The Warriors wanted to make a quick impact with their first-round draught pick, so they searched for a player with that potential. They chose Jordan Poole with the 28th overall choice in the Draft.
Jordan Poole
Ever since he was selected, Jordan Poole has been the target of haters.
The Warriors already had Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson as two reliable starting guards when JP was selected. When Poole graduated from the University of Michigan, it was said that his style of play was that of a “one-directional shooter” who lacked strength and defense.
Every team in his first season was out to punish the undermanned Warriors and vent their anger. Jordan Poole averaged 8.8 points per game while shooting 27.9 percent from beyond the arc.
Poole was frequently transferred to the G-League, but he never gave up working. He began to shine in his sophomore year as Steph dominated the NBA. JP improved his statistics to 18.5 points, 4 assists, and 3.4 rebounds in the 2021–22 season while playing with one of the greatest backcourt combinations in NBA history.
Poole recorded 17 points and 3.8 assists in his first-ever playoffs while shooting 39.1 percent from outside the arc.
In just three seasons, Poole moved from being regarded as the “worst pick in the draught” to a crucial member of a team that won the championship. Those journalists must be holding their tongues right now, I suppose.