Jordan Poole wasn’t even officially on the Washington Wizards roster. Yet, the newly acquired guard wasted no time reaching out to the Wizards’ first-round pick Bilal Coulibaly Thursday night.
Coulibaly got introduced to the Wizards fans and media on Saturday, and the France native revealed that Poole welcomed him to the team.
“Jordan Poole sent me a text, ‘Welcome to DC, can’t wait to start working and playing with you.'” Coulibaly told reporters.
Because of salary cap rules, Poole won’t officially be a member until July 1. But Poole is being proactive with at least one teammate on his new team.
Poole’s time in Golden State didn’t end well. However, it’s no denying being around the Warriors’ veteran leadership for four seasons aided his development on the court and could help grow him into a leader.
Jordan Poole emerged as an integral part of Golden State’s run to an NBA championship in 2022. After signing a four-year, $128 million extension last summer, Poole seemed destined to be the Warriors’ future.
However, a lot changed when Poole got punched by his teammate Draymond Green during a training camp practice. Golden State’s chemistry was never quite the same, and the ripple effects led to the Warriors getting bounced from the playoffs by the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference Semifinals.
The damaged relationship between Poole and Green made it evident that one had to move on. Poole’s dreadful playoff performance — possibly a byproduct of the situation with Green — lends him to being the odd man out.
Reaching out to Coulibaly on draft night shows Poole hasn’t let the ordeal shape him negatively with his approach to teammates. Now he is out of the shadows of the Warriors’ Big Three of Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Green. Poole is away from the darkest moment of his career to date.
Poole has a fresh start with the Wizards. As the roster stands, he will enter the 2023-24 season as the team’s highest-paid player as his contract extension kicks in. He’s got a chance to blossom into the centerpiece of the Wizards’ rebuild. He’s already taken a step toward leading the team by contacting Coulibaly.
Meanwhile, Coulibaly represents the Wizards’ first long-term investment under its new front office. Poole will usher in the transition, and Coulibaly could solidify the team’s new era. Together the two could work hand and hand. The line to a healthy relationship is already drawn by Poole texting Coulibaly.
