After several campaigns playing without their key pieces, the Golden State Warriors are looking like their old selves lately. And while there have been stretches when Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green missed time this season, the boat remains steady because of key contributions from guys who are exceeding expectations, such as Jordan Poole. The thing is, the guard's improvement isn't just limited to the court. It's also showing in his rookie card value in the market.
We take a good look at how Poole is playing for the Warriors this year, as compared to his previous seasons, and what it means for his stock in the rookie card market.
Jordan Poole's breakout season
Being picked late in the first round in a draft class that boasts Ja Morant and Zion Williamson didn't generate tons of hype for Poole when he entered the league in 2019. Right off the bat, the young guard would mostly come off the bench for a Warriors squad that didn't have most of their big three. As a result, Poole didn't get the time nor the opportunity to fully immerse himself in the NBA during his first year.
But even if that's the case, the then-rookie would get an average of 22.4 minutes on the floor and produce a measly 8.8 points per game on a horrendous 33% shooting from the field and 28% from beyond the arc. With those numbers, it would be easy for any NBA card collector to dismiss Poole as a bust in the league.
But as fate would have it, Poole's sophomore campaign was a tad better than this rookie season. Even with Thompson still out, Curry and Green were in the lineup for the Warriors. During that time, the young guard would play 51 games, seven of which he started, and showed flashes of improvement from those contests.
Poole would go on to average 12 points per game on 43% shooting from the field and 35% from downtown. And although his playmaking and defense weren't up to standards yet, his overall impact on offense was finally being noticed. Case in point, his match against the New Orleans Pelicans last year.
That 38-point explosion, plus the game-winning shot, gave everyone an early look at what a prime Jordan Poole would look like. Unfortunately, the Warriors missed the playoffs last year, which robbed the young guard of crucial experience in the postseason.
Nevertheless, things are looking different now for Poole and the Warriors. For starters, they now have a chance to play at full strength when the playoffs come soon, especially if the projected timeframe of Curry's recovery from a sprained ankle is met. And of course, playing with the version of Poole surging through the stats.
This season alone, the Warriors' guard is averaging 18.4 points on 45/36/92 shooting splits while making 3.3 rebounds and 3.8 assists in 29.9 minutes per game. His offensive box score, which started out at -4.4 during his rookie season, then improved to 0.7, is now at 1.4. This improvement just shows that Poole is indeed becoming a credible source of offense for the Warriors this season.
And much like his breakout game against the Pelicans last year, Poole did it again during a recent match against the Miami Heat. In that contest, the guard led a Warriors squad without its three most important stars in it – Curry, Green, and Thompson. Instead, he played alongside some of the franchise's building blocks for the future, Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1Mr1iS1HRA
The result was a 30-point eruption when Poole connected 55% of his field goals, including 7-of-13 from beyond the arc. This performance helped the Warriors overcome Miami to get the 118-104 win. And that's just the tip of the iceberg as the young stud has scored 20 or more points for more than 11 instances this season.
With that kind of production, it's getting harder to think Poole was just a late first round pick who won't amount to anything. Turns out, most collectors were wrong as Jordan Poole cards in the market have been heating up all season long. With the playoffs set to come soon, his stock in the card market may get more heat in the coming weeks.
The state of Jordan Poole rookie cards
Poole's stock in the market is a fascinating one. For the past few months, it's riding high on an upward trend that has the Warriors' guard exceeding expectations in the hobby.
In a three-month graph by Card Ladder, Poole's PSA 10 Prizm Silver rookie card has gone up from $312 to $385. The key detail to take note of here is how it bottomed out at $176 when March started and how it has continuously risen to its current value.
This surge is very reflective of Poole's string of impressive performances during the past month or so. In any case, things are definitely looking good for those Jordan Poole cards in the market.
The verdict on Jordan Poole rookie cards
At this point in time, Poole's stock in the card market is among the brightest prospects any collector could get. For starters, the young guard has proven himself as a reliable source of offense all throughout this season. This development helps cement his case as the next man up for the Warriors when Curry, Thompson, and Green all exit their primes.
It also helps that Jordan Poole rookie cards aren't as hyped up as those of Ja Morant or Luka Doncic. The thing is, it can only be a matter of time before he makes a tremendous leap in talent. When that happens, expect his stock to be more valuable than what it is now. The best course of action is to scoop up those cards at their lowest to prepare for a potential Jordan Poole-era in the Bay.
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