Stephen Curry has been the key to the Warriors’ dynasty, leading the team to four NBA championships as the greatest shooter in NBA history. He is the reason the franchise has grown as big and valuable as they have, but he is also 35 years old.
The Golden State Warriors have an aging core of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green. They have some good young players too, but no one that great yet. And when asked about the bridge between their dynastic run and the future that is to come, Curry named one of his young teammates.
“Following the game, I asked Curry how the Warriors could bridge the gap between the dynastic present and an unknown future,” Logan Murdock wrote for The Ringer. “Curry paused, then glanced to his left, toward Poole’s locker, and pointed. ‘He’s the key,’ Curry said, for all to hear, before exiting the room.”
The team must also have believed that Jordan Poole is the man that could take them forward, considering the massive contract he received. But Poole became almost unplayable during these playoffs, and a lot of questions were raised about whether he will live up to his potential. If Curry and the Warriors are banking on Poole to be that guy, they must be more than a little concerned at the moment.
Jordan Poole Gave The Reason For His Poor Performance In The Playoffs
Jordan Poole averaged over 20 points per game during the regular season. This scoring average fell by half in the playoffs, with him averaging just 10.3 points per game. That is an abysmal return and a large part of the reason why fans and media members have lost confidence in him. But the man himself thinks the reason was different, and something that can be fixed.
“Probably just a little bit of a role change,” Poole said. “Last year, I could come in, score, be aggressive with the team that we had around being more of a facilitator.
“It’s not always about scoring. It’s about finding ways to try to help our team be successful. I think every playoffs will be different. Everything won’t be the same. And like I said, you learn from that, grow from that, and apply it to your skill set.”
The important thing right now is for Poole to not lose confidence in himself. Following in Stephen Curry’s footsteps is not an easy task for anyone, but Poole has the talent to come close. What he does this summer and how he comes out next season will likely show what the Warriors franchise will be like moving forward.
