Former Warriors guard Jordan Poole is building something new across the country in Washington, D.C., but before he plays his first regular-season game in a Wizards jersey, he believes his basketball legacy is already set in stone thanks to his accomplishments over four years in the Bay Area. . .
“I get to play the game I love at the highest level, my family is taken care of, and my basketball legacy is taken care of [championship] Paul told… Ranger Logan Murdock. This is probably the first time in my life that I played basketball without any pressure. So that’s kind of the way you look at it.
“but [playing in Washington] It’s a really good opportunity. “It’s a great opportunity, a great opportunity.”
Paul went from being a first-round pick to G League player to championship contributor in his first three seasons with the Warriors. He took a huge leap forward in the 2021-22 season and had a huge impact on the Warriors’ 2022 championship run, filling in for superstar Steph Curry when needed and providing the team with a spark off the bench.
When Curry missed the Warriors’ final 12 regular-season games that year, Ball started all 12 contests and averaged 25.8 points on 37.4 percent shooting from 3-point range. He led the team to five straight wins before the playoffs.
Paul was at his best in the postseason as well. He started all five first-round games against the Denver Nuggets and led the team in scoring in Game 1. He also scored 31 points in the Western Conference semifinal win over the Memphis Grizzlies. In the NBA Finals, Paul averaged 13.2 points on 38.5 percent shooting from 3-point range against the Boston Celtics.
He’s got a championship ring more than that.
Now, Paul is tasked with being a leader on the Wizards’ staff, using the tools he learned from Curry, who has held that role with Golden State since he was drafted in 2009.
“As a basketball player, as a kid you want to grow up and be the face of the franchise,” Paul said earlier this month. “It’s a really great situation because I feel like I’ve learned, I’ve asked a lot of questions to prepare for this moment.
If Ball can build a consistent winner in Washington — an organization that hasn’t advanced beyond the Western Conference semifinals since 1979 — that will add greatly to his legacy on the court.
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