The Golden State Warriors absolutely steamrolled the New Orleans Pelicans by a shocking 51 points on Monday night. That’s a huge margin, sure, but what really hit you hard was seeing Jordan Poole out there on the court. It was a poignant reunion, seeing a former champion getting minutes again, but the circumstances were just brutal.
From Championship Contender to Benchwarmer
Man, it feels like just yesterday Jordan Poole was a superstar in the making. Drafted 28th overall by the Warriors in 2019 out of Michigan, he showed flashes in his first two years. But then 2021-22 hit, and he exploded onto the scene! He was a starter, playing 30 minutes a night, dropping 18.5 points and dishing 4.0 assists. The dude led the entire NBA in free throw percentage, had a highlight reel play every single game, and was sometimes the second option on a Warriors team that went on to win an NBA championship against the Boston Celtics. It was incredible, seriously.
But then, things went sideways, and fast. The next year was a mix of good and bad: he signed a massive extension, which was awesome, but also took a punch from teammate Draymond Green. That whole situation created uncomfortable vibes and thick tension that hung over the entire season. Then the Warriors traded Poole to the Washington Wizards for Chris Paul. Away from Steph Curry and Steve Kerr’s offense, Poole struggled, putting up big numbers but on super low efficiency. He did bounce back with a strong offensive showing in the 2024-25 season, but then he was traded again, this time to the Pelicans before last season. His first year in the bayou did not go to plan, averaging just 13.4 points and shooting a lowly 37.2 percent from the field. And this season? It’s been even tougher to watch.
A Return to the Court, But Not a Resurgence
Poole started this 2026-27 season slow, coming off the bench for the first four games with lackluster numbers. That earned him a benching, and by the time New Orleans rolled into Chase Center on Monday, Poole hadn’t even stepped on the court for six straight games. Six games! For a guy who was once the second option on a championship team.
That playing drought finally ended on Monday, but not in a way anyone wanted. With the Pelicans missing a handful of key players, including Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy III, and Yves Missi, and the game being a complete blowout from the opening tip, head coach Jamahl Mosley gave Poole his largest run of the season, playing him for 34 minutes. You’d hope for a spark, right? A moment of that old Poole magic? Nope. He scored just seven points on 1-for-5 shooting, with two assists and two turnovers. The simple truth is, he didn’t play well. It was nice to see him out there, absolutely, but the “what could have been” feeling was just heavy in the air.
It’s clear Poole’s been reluctant to talk about the Draymond situation, but you can’t help but wonder what his path could have been if things had gone differently. Maybe someday we’ll get some answers to that “what could have been” question, but for now, the future for Jordan Poole looks as uncertain as ever.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Golden State of Mind.
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