Subscribe
Follow Us
The NBA Draft is the biggest highlight of many basketball players' careers. Some go on to be highly successful, but there are no guarantees in the NBA. For Golden State Warriors guard Jordan Poole, he wouldn't miss it for anything.
During an appearance on the ClutchPoints Warriors Multiverse podcast, Poole shared his draft night experience in 2019.
“As a kid, that's something that you dream of being able to get your name called, play in the NBA, go across the stage, or put on that jersey for the first time,” Poole told ClutchPoints.
The Michigan standout's draft night wasn't like most who attended the special occasion. Although he walked the stage to shake NBA commissioner Adam Silver's hand, Poole didn't receive an invitation to the event.
“Me, my parents, and my family decided that all of the hard work, sweat, blood, and tears that went into this growing up, it only made sense to go to the draft and really experience it, whether you get your name called or not,” Poole said.
Many draft boards had Poole projected in the second round, or worst, he could not be picked at all. The kid from Milwaukee chose to go anyway, and he heard his name called in the first round with the no. 28 pick by the Warriors.
“Being able to walk across that stage, you're given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Poole said. “I'm extremely glad and appreciative that we decided to come up with that decision because the next year was COVID, and the guys couldn't even walk across the stage. That shows you how important it is and how much meaning that has not only for myself but for my parents. To allow them to see that all the hard work and the sacrifices that they put in finally paid off. It was more so for them, and it's the least I could do. It's kind of a token of appreciation for my parents, my family.”
Poole is expected to play a big role for the Warriors this season, providing instant scoring off the bench. He could even start at shooting guard depending on the matchups.
