An athlete will often carry a chip on his or her shoulder just as a superhero might wear a power pack for special might. For athletes, it’s about gaining a competitive edge and new Warrior Jordan Poole, the No. 28 overall pick in this year’s draft, is no different.
Poole’s chip is viewing himself as an underdog, which powers him with the mindset of having something to prove.
“I always feel like I’m in an under-dog situation and am overlooked,” Poole told Mark Medina of The Mercury News. “So I find a way to push myself to prove people wrong.”
And he’s not entirely wrong.
Many sports journalists placed Poole in the second round of their mock drafts and his name did not come up in Warriors Wire’s mock drafts or draft-night preview either. Now that he has turned some heads with his first-round selection, Poole has a plan for proving his worth. He cherishes the “clean slate” that the jump up to the NBA provides but also knows the grind is just beginning.
Poole’s plan to prove everyone wrong starts with a Warrior-like work ethic. “I just keep my head down and grind,” he said. “That’s something that got me to where I am.”
But his streaky shooting and lack of commitment on defense are things the Warriors want him to improve upon.
Poole’s got a plan for that, too:
Obviously everything is not what you want it to be right away. … A – you adjust. And B – you learn. So I’ll be able to find a way to make an impact defensively, offensively, passing or shooting. Whatever it is, I’ll find a way to be on the court.
In four Summer League outings, Poole has averaged 17.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game. He is playing 29 minutes per game and averaging 40 percent shooting from the field.
