Three players out of the 2019 NBA Draft have made names for themselves and are already All-Stars: Zion Willamson, Ja Morant, and Darius Garland. There are more players from that draft class destined to join the list of elite talents, but there is one who surprisingly entered the conversation this season. It’s no other than Golden State Warriors guard Jordan Poole. He was selected 28th that year, even though he was projected to be picked late in the second round or even worse, go undrafted.

The third-year guard had an outstanding season for the Warriors. In the 2021-22 season, Poole averaged 18.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 4.0 assists. It came as a surprise to many but not for Poole. The budding star knew he was headed for greatness even during his most challenging moments.

In an interview on the Warriors’ Multiverse podcast last October, Poole talked about his mindset and preparing for the future that was closer than anyone knew.

*Click here to listen to the full interview*

In Poole's rookie season, things didn't take off right away. He struggled with his shooting and he wasn't able to get into the regular rotation. Early on, drafting Poole in the first round was beginning to look like a mistake. Some felt he lost his confidence during these troubled times. But Poole said he felt the exact opposite.

“The confidence never left,” Poole told ClutchPoints. “That's just who I am as a player. I play with confidence. I've always had confidence. I believe in myself and believe in the work I put in.”

At that point, the Warriors decided to go another route. They wanted to see Poole play more, but they couldn't figure out how to get him meaningful minutes consistently. That's when the master plan began.

“Earlier in the year, minutes were slim,” Poole explained. “We were trying to play with a lot of the vets. The coaching staff and front office thought it was best for me to go to the G League during that time.”

To some young prospects, heading to the G League could mean the end of their NBA career is nearing. In Poole’s case, this was the beginning of something bigger than he could imagine. The Milwaukee native didn't fight the idea of playing some games with the Santa Cruz Warriors. Instead, he embraced it. He went in with a positive attitude. Poole's mindset is likely the key to all of the success that was coming his way.

“I personally went down there and looked at it as live reps,” Poole continued. “I love to work on my game. I love to grind and try to better myself.”

He wound up spending chunks of time in the G League. While he's shown improvements, they still weren't enough to convince Steve Kerr he was ready to rejoin the Warriors. It was the perfect time to start thinking about what was next in his basketball career, but Poole bet on himself and continued to work on his craft.

While Poole traveled back and forth to Santa Cruz, he received a message that's coming to fruition now. It was a conversation many might have taken the wrong way, but once again, the former Michigan standout made the right choice.

“We had a talk, and they (coaching staff) wanted me to go down there and be the player they knew I can be, to help us win games, be aggressive, and be a playmaker,” Poole recalled. “At the end of the day, I'm the type of player who wants to play the right way right, win, and get everybody else involved.”

In his second season, things started to click. Near the second half of the campaign, the Warriors called him up. After a few games with Stephen Curry and company, he was thrown into the everyday rotation.

The 6’5″ guard finished the season as the team’s sixth man. It was all because Poole wasn't afraid to humbly take a step back to get where he needed to be.

“I tried to envision everything I'll be getting when I got back with Golden State,” Poole said.

Coming into year no. 3, Poole’s confidence that never left was on full display. He was named a starter to replace injured star Klay Thompson. He immediately took advantage of the opportunity.

Poole averaged just under 20 points while Thompson was away. The 22-year-old amazed NBA fans with how much he improved. Playing in Santa Cruz allowed him to develop quickly. It prepared him for the next challenge.

This year, Poole took another leap in his progression as a player. His name was frequently mentioned for the Most Improved Player of the Year award. He wasn't chosen as a finalist, but many believe he should be the winner.

Poole’s breakout campaign was heavily influenced by Curry. Their relationship grew, and so did Poole’s skills and confidence. Playing alongside and against the two-time MVP in practice has taught him more than the average youngster learns in the NBA.

“It’s amazing. First of all, Steph is big bro,” Poole told ClutchPoints. “I ask him questions, all the time. Imagine if a younger brother or a younger player goes against the older player, you’re going to want to ask as many questions as you can. They’re going to want to teach you.”

The combination of veteran leadership and energetic youth has made this year's Warriors special. The willingness of the veterans to share knowledge with the younger guys is a huge reason the team was able to be this good, despite all the injuries. The player that benefited the most from this setup is Poole.

“It’s year three for me, and I think this is year 13 for Steph (Curry). I’m 10 years of knowledge behind, and that’s the guy that I want to ask questions,” Poole said. “We’re both competitive, and we always want to get better. Whenever we go against each other, it’s always competitive, and we try to push each other as much as possible. I try to push him to let him be as great as he can be. I try to learn as much as possible from him.”

What Poole didn't know was that these lessons would be of use this season. Since March, he's been tearing up the league. That month, he averaged 25.4 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 4.9 assists. It solidified him as more than just a second-unit player. A new star was being born. Now in the NBA Playoffs, on the biggest stage, Poole is shining his brightest. It's no surprise to him and the Warriors. Because this was the plan all along.