After a tumultuous final year with the Golden State Warriors, Jordan Poole is officially a Washington Wizard. But despite Poole’s best efforts to move on, at his first media appearance with his new squad Saturday, he was, of course, asked about the rocky end to his time in California.
A reporter asked how the infamous Draymond Green punch colored his time with the Warriors. Poole, who was short but polite in response to all the questions about the Warriors, was quick to change the subject.
“We’re in Washington now,” Poole replied. “Playing with [Kyle Kuzma], great duo. Being able to really flourish, expand your game and help, like I said, a new team. Help lead an entire group of guys. It’s a challenge that we’re up for. We got a new front office, and there’s a lot of people that’s invested. Everybody’s locked in, wants to be here, start something that we can have that can be special.”
When pressed for a retrospective on his four years at Golden State, Poole was brief: “It was good. Got a ring, was able to do some life-changing stuff and met a lot of amazing people.” He was similarly vague when recapping how the trade went down. He described calling his agent on draft day with the expectation that he may be traded, waited through the day and later had the news confirmed with his agent.
By the end, Poole’s relationship with his fellow Warriors had reportedly deteriorated so thoroughly that even mild-mannered Klay Thompson was taking shots at him. Coach Steve Kerr also took to Green’s podcast to criticize, without naming names, some of the team’s younger players.
But, at least according to Poole, that’s water under the bridge. On Saturday, he called Thompson and Steph Curry “two greatest shooters of all time” and said he’ll still have a relationship with them going forward.
“I can text Steph. I can text Klay. I can call them and just have a conversation,” Poole said. “That doesn’t leave, that doesn’t go anywhere. If anything, I just know the plays that they run.”