The frank words of Andre Iguodala to Jordan Poole after the trade with the Warriors originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Jordan Poole no longer in the Warriorsbut his former teammates have high expectations for the rising young guard next season.
Veteran forward Andre Iguodala, who mentored Poole during the 24-year-old’s four-year career with the Warriors, believes that despite what people think, Poole will have a strong 2022-23 season in Golden State. And Iguodala is sure that Poole will lead that performance in his first season with the Washington Wizards.
“He averaged 20 last year, a bad year. He’s going to get to the line. He was the only one who got to the line for us last year consistently,” Iguodala said on the “Gil’s Arena” podcast. “People act like he’s having a bad year. I’m like, ‘OK, a bad year? You blame him for the year we had last year and he averaged 20.’ [He will average] 25-plus, easy. He’s going to the line.
“And then at home, you’ve got to give him the whistle at home, he’s going to average 30 at home. And this is Chocolate City, so you know who’s in the stands, they’ve got all the meme. Every time he sees a bad chick, he goes 40.”
Another ex-teammate, Golden State sharpshooter Klay Thompson, saw All-Star potential for Poole.
But it takes more than talent to succeed in the NBA, and Iguodala is no sugarcoat whatsoever. Iguodala understands that it will be difficult for Poole to shine in a team consisting of Steph Curry, Thompson, Draymond Green and Andrew Wiggins. So when Poole was sent to Washington DC in a blockbuster trade bringing future Hall of Fame point guard Chris Paul to the Bay, Iguodala kept it real with the young guard.
The four-time champion told Poole that he has to grow up now that he has “his own team,” and that being the face of a franchise comes with a lot of responsibility. With Golden State, it wasn’t something he had to worry about, but with the Wizards, it was a different story.
Iguodala, who still talks to Poole regularly, said he’s already noticed a difference, though.
“He’s starting to take the right steps,” Iguodala said. “I heard about what he does with his teammates. The other day, I asked him about his teammates, and he knows everything about every one of them. And I’m like ‘OK, now we’re starting right that way.’
“He brought them all to LA. He did! He was the lead.”
Iguodala is one of the leaders of the team for a reason, the players and coaches have a ton of respect for him. And though no longer on the same shore, Iguodala will continue to counsel Poole from afar. And if Poole keeps listening, more things may be in store for him.