SAN FRANCISCO — The Warriors were hoping their fans would shower Jordan Poole with a warm embrace, and they got their wish.
Poole, who helped the Warriors to the 2022 NBA championship, got a standing ovation as he was individually introduced on Friday night in the Chase Center. A tribute video of his highlights as a Warrior, including him holding the Larry O’Brien trophy, showed on the big screen.
#DubNation, join us in welcoming Jordan Poole back to Warriors Ground 👏 pic.twitter.com/vn9vroIdqp
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) December 23, 2023
Poole craned his neck from the visitor’s bench to watch the video, then dapped up his new Wizards teammates. At the end of the handshake line, he danced and motioned to the friendly crowd in the lower bowl.
“I think it’s going to be a great night,” Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said pregame. “I think Jordan will get a well-deserved reception for our fans that will reflect how much he meant to our team while he was here. So I’m excited for Jordan, and it’ll be good to see him on a personal level as well. I know a lot of our guys are excited to see him.”
Before the tribute video, Poole hugged former teammates Kevon Looney, Gary Payton II and Stephen Curry.
Jordan Poole reunites with Kevon Looney, Gary Payton II pic.twitter.com/DwwhEJEz4i
— Shayna Rubin (@ShaynaRubin) December 23, 2023
Earlier in the week, Kerr said “I hate the way it ended” for Poole in Golden State. The Warriors traded him last summer, sending him away from a team that still has Draymond Green, who punched Poole in the face during training camp.
Patrick Baldwin Jr. and Ryan Rollins were also included in that trade, which brought Chris Paul back to the Warriors.
Poole has struggled so far this season with the Wizards, though Washington head coach Wes Unseld Jr. said the shooting guard has played better of late. Despite a more featured role, Poole is averaging fewer points, rebounds and assists per game than he did with Golden State last year.