Save some for the regular season, Jordan Poole! The Washington Wizards guard put on an epic preseason performance at The Mecca of Basketball, Madison Square Garden.
Poole scorched the New York Knicks for 41 points in 27 minutes of play. He scored 29 in the first half, including eight of the Wizards’ final ten points before the halftime break.
He missed his first shot of the game, a deep three. But he was merely getting warmed up. He came back, shooting a pull-up three in which he got fouled by Quentin Grimes. It was evident Poole was going to have that kind of night.
Poole drained six three-pointers, shooting 50% behind the arc. He shot 10-of-19 from the field in all. He also stayed aggressive, attacking the defense and getting rewarded. Poole made 15 of 16 free throws.
His stepback three on RJ Barrett showcased his majestic moves. Then he put his former Golden State Warriors teammate Donte DiVincenzo before cashing a three.
He also showed his leadership just before the half. The Wizards were looking to get a two-for-one in the final minute. Poole instructed Ryan Rollins to get up the court and fire a shot.
Maybe Jordan Poole is the next James Harden
Rollins did, a miss. However, after a stop on defense, Poole gathered the rebound and slowed down to set up a quality final possession. Poole ultimately drove past Barrett to get the layup.
At times, Jordan Poole brought the ball up and initiated the offense. His freedom within the Wizards’ system is something he didn’t necessarily have while with the Warriors.
Poole’s ignited performance occurred without his partner in crime, Kyle Kuzma. Kuzma missed the game with a calf injury but did make headlines with his new hairstyle.
After a roster reshape, the Wizards handed the keys to Poole, shipping Bradley Beal and Kristaps Porzingis to Phoenix and Boston, respectively. Poole is ready to blossom away from the Warriors’ legacy.
With his trade to Washington, Poole has drawn comparisons to when James Harden got traded from the Oklahoma City Thunder to the Houston Rockets. If Poole makes a similar leap, nights like Wednesday will be often and less far between.
