“First time in my life, I will play basketball without any pressure,” Jordan Poole says after joining Washington Wizards

Jordan Poole was shockingly traded by the Golden State Warriors in their pursuit of landing Chris Paul. He joined the Washington Wizards and will be looking to lead them this season. While it was unexpected for many people, there were experts who predicted such an outcome considering his ongoing issues with Draymond Green and his lacklustre performances last season.

But people felt that the Warriors had just awarded him a four-year contract worth $128 million. So they believed that the organisation had trust in the youngster. But it turned out differently as they had the opportunity to add someone of Chris Paul’s stature to their roster, the Warriors team management didn’t think twice.

However, Poole is happy that he is still playing basketball and feels that this move to Washington will help him provide for his family and loved ones. He also mentions that he can play much more freely with less pressure on his shoulders.

“Playing the game I love at the highest level, my family is taken care of, my basketball legacy is taken care of with the ring … This is probably the first time in my life I’ll play basketball with no pressure,” Poole said [via The Ringer].

Poole has the potential and talent to succeed as a premier offensive player in the NBA. But he needs to work on his defensive skills to be an all-round star for the Wizards. In his previous seasons as well, Poole’s poor defensive skills did not impress his teammates, coaches and even fans.

While scoring is an important aspect of the game, his defensive side of the game also needs to be top-notch. If he wants to be an asset for the Washington Wizards, he needs to be more sound defensively.

The Wizards will be very much dependent on Poole in terms of scoring. His ability to drive to the basket, excel in challenging shots and streaky ability to hit the mark from long range makes him a sensation.

But one major problem that he can face is the opponent’s attention on him. During his days with the Golden State Warriors, he enjoyed the luxury of finding holes in the opposition’s defence to score easy points as most of the defenders were busy covering Stephen Curry or Klay Thompson. So when he becomes the main offensive outlet in a team, he will have to deal with defences all by himself and it will be a new challenge for the youngster.

It also provides him with an opportunity to shine in his own right and produce an All-Star worthy performance for the Wizards. He would like to channel his energy for his new team and be the best version of himself.