Jordan Poole‘s tenure as a Washington Wizard hasn’t carried the best track record. Does his future hold promise, or will it be more of the same for the Wizards? The team has consistently struggled and will almost certainly finish with the worst record in the league this season. Looking forward, does Poole have a chance to become the next star the franchise is looking for? With the prospect of the young guys developing and the new additions to the roster, does Poole have what it takes to lead this squad into the playoffs in the seasons to come? Let’s dive into these possibilities.
Can Jordan Poole Become the Face of the Franchise?
Poole’s Past
Poole has been an extremely interesting player since entering the league in 2019. Picked at 28, it was a fair assumption that Poole would be able to be a solid contributor to the Warriors headed into the 2020s. His first two seasons in the league were rather unimpressive. Spending some time in the G League while bouncing around in the lineup is expected of a guy who came into the league unpolished. However, in the 2021-22 season, the Warriors gave him the majority of starts as the shooting guard. He was a solid offensive threat, averaging 18.5 points on 44.8% from the field. For a guy playing beside two of the best shooters ever, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson that’s pretty solid. Eventually, he helped lead the squad to a championship that same season. After a down year in the 2022-23 season and an altercation with Draymond Green, Poole was traded to the Wizards.
Wizards Situation Coming In
Poole went from helping lead a team to a championship to a team ushering in a complete rebuild. The Wizards at the time had just finished 12th in the conference with a 35-47 record and no true direction headed into the next season. At the time, Kyle Kuzma was the number one option for the Wizards, and there was optimism that Poole and Kuzma could be at the helm of a rebuild in Washington. However, just a season and a half in, Kuzma is now on the Bucks. Along with this, the half-season experiment with Jonas Valanciunas ended in a trade. The Wizards kept Poole and now have a new situation on their hands of Poole becoming a true piece to the rebuilding roster moving forward.
Poole’s Case for Stardom
While the Wizards have the youngest roster in the league, Poole is an ideal guard for them. Poole has an excellent ability to get his create his own shot. Consistency is one of Poole’s biggest problems since entering the league, and that will be something he needs to improve. At times, his shot can look rushed or almost like he feels slighted he hasn’t touched the ball. Nevertheless, two big positives looking forward are that Poole is averaging a career-high in assists (4.8) and three-point percentage (37.6) this season. Poole is leading the team in points (21.3) and assists.
Defensive Issues
Defense has never been a strong suit of Poole’s in the past. In the past, Poole has been criticized for his lackluster defense, with him almost being a liability compared to some of his teammates. This season, he has seemed much more focused and not ball-watching as much. His career-high 1.4 steals are an indicator of new energy on that end. It’s a nice sight to see for fans trying to find some sort of positives in what has been a disaster of a season. Moving forward, Poole will need to continue to improve his defense.
Other Roles for Poole
Many don’t see Poole becoming the franchise player. At the age of 25 nearing the end of his sixth NBA season, the chances of Poole making a sizeable jump are unlikely. Some do believe he would be a decent second or third option headed into his later 20s. Alex Sarr is the primary candidate on the current roster to eventually become the face of the Wizards franchise.
Sarr and Poole have shown that they could end up being a decent pairing. Especially once Sarr’s offensive game fully develops. However, Poole could be hindering Sarr’s progress in development. In the nine games Sarr has played without Poole this season, he’s averaged more points (14.1) and shot a better percentage (43.8) from the field. Time will tell if these two will become the Wizards pair of the future. If not, the Wizards have a plethora of younger guards who will be trying to take Poole’s role.
The 2025 NBA Draft class is loaded with star talent. Many believe the Wizards will find their franchise star in the draft as they are likely to get a top-five pick. Landing a future superstar in the draft is the goal for most rebuilding teams.
The Last Word
Time will tell if Poole becomes the Wizards star of the future or a cornerstone piece in a rebuilding roster. Poole must overcome his inconsistent offensive nature while continuing to improve his defensive abilities. His playmaking and decision-making will also need to improve notably he is averaging a career-high 3.3 turnovers. However as other players develop and deadline additions mesh, his assist numbers should also see an improvement. Similarly, as the Wizards add more talent in the draft and offseason Poole’s playmaking is destined to improve. Ultimately, either star or in another role, Poole seems to have found a decent situation for himself on a revamping roster.
Photo credit: © Reggie Hildred-Imagn Images
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