"Just keep grinding" - Jordan Poole's sage advice to young fan on how to make it to the NBA
Jordan Poole of the Washington Wizards had some good advice for young fans on how to make it to the NBA. Poole has been in the league since 2019, reaching the pinnacle in 2022 with the Golden State Warriors. However, he might have reached rock-bottom in his first year with the Wizards.
In a post on Instagram, a kid named Landon Bell approached the one-time NBA champion during the Summer League last month. Bell asked Poole about his journey to the league and for advice on how to make it to the NBA.
"Just keep grinding, bro. Always take care of school, but always have fun. Basketball is a super fun sport, so keep working, and make sure you have a good time," Poole said.
The Wizards guard added:
"Keep going, bro. It'll be tough, but it's always worth it. So, if you're in the gym more than anybody else, you'll have a good shot. Nice to meet you, bro."
Jordan Poole was the 28th overall pick by the Golden State Warriors in 2019 after two years in Michigan. He had a rough first two seasons with the Warriors due to a variety of factors, like the team being poor in his rookie year to the COVID-19 pandemic in his second season.
Poole spent time in the NBA G League in his first years, but it all paid off when he became an important part of the rotation during the 2021-22 season. He averaged 18.5 points as a starter and off the bench. He was one of the reasons why the Warriors won the championship that year.
However, things changed at the start of the 2022-23 season when Draymond Green punched Poole during practice. The team's chemistry was affected by the incident, and Poole was traded last season to the Washington Wizards. He had a terrible first year at the capital, putting up just 17.4 points on a horrendous 41.3% shooting from the field.
Draymond Green opens up about regrets on incident with Jordan Poole
Draymond Green's punch on Jordan Poole shook the Golden State Warriors to the core, and its effect still lingers at the organization. Green opened up about the incident and shared one of his biggest regrets about his actions.
"When I took J.P. under my wing, and to see him have success was the best thing for me. One of the worst feelings I've ever had as an NBA basketball player was seeing him get a contract and knowing that I f**ked it off, and I couldn't celebrate his contract with him.
"I think he had a party or something with his people in San Francisco, and to not be able to go celebrate that with him, I f*cked it off," Green said.
Both Poole and Green weren't a part of the Team USA roster that won gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics earlier this month.