:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/57146435/usa_today_10319463.0.jpg)
It would take a special effort to top an 18-points-in-19-minutes effort from Stephen Curry. But that’s exactly what Jordan Bell gave us all on in the Golden State Warriors’ final preseason game Friday night against the Sacramento Kings.
With Draymond Green missing the game as he recuperated from an injury, Bell moved into the starting lineup and took Green’s power forward spot against the Kings. In his first extended minutes of the preseason, the rookie did not disappoint as he put together his best game and displayed much of the promise that has Warriors fans so excited for his future.
In the first quarter, Bell showed what he could offer the team on the offensive end, getting the ball off of a Curry pick-and-roll and scoring the easy basket.
If Jordan Bell can make plays like this out of the pick-and-roll, Steve Kerr will have no choice but to put him in the rotation pic.twitter.com/1AFDIAm2WY
— Drew Shiller (@DrewShiller) October 14, 2017
The gravity of Curry opens up the lane for Bell but he’s still able to finish at the rim in traffic, something that isn’t a given for a rookie big man.
Bell’s strong play would continue into the third quarter. With Curry and Klay Thompson done for the evening, Bell would have a chance shine. In a play that grabbed owner Joe Lacob’s attention as he joined Bob Fitzgerald and Jim Barnett on the CSN Bay Area broadcast, Bell put up another strong finish at the basket.
Not bad @1jordanbell - 8 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, 19 minutes pic.twitter.com/oEXeNfr0mO
— GoldenStateWarriors (@warriors) October 14, 2017
Beating Zaza Pachulia to the rim, Bell would get the rebound followed by the off-hand putback for two points. The Georgian center would (playfully) give the rookie a hard time for stealing the points and rebound off of the veteran’s stat sheet.
Rook you are so disrespectful stilling points and a rebound from the vet @1jordanbell https://t.co/rHClRwliuL
— Zaza Pachulia (@zaza27) October 14, 2017
Bell’s strong showing was not limited to his scoring and rebounding. The rookie also displayed some proficiency in the passing game as well, as Eric Apricot outlines in the Explain One Play for last night’s game on a pick-and-roll with Patrick McCaw.
Bell would finish the game with a double-double, scoring 10 points along with grabbing 11 rebounds, handing out 4 assists, making 2 steals and blocking 2 shots all in 25 minutes of game action. Bell would cap the double-double with an impressive move with the ball followed by a nice finish at the basket in traffic.
.@1jordanbell with a double-double in his first start. Not bad for a rookie pic.twitter.com/G4TEXOZVvD
— GoldenStateWarriors (@warriors) October 14, 2017
While tempering the expectations of Warriors fans ever so slightly, head coach Steve Kerr acknowledged how well Bell played and he could be someone who could contribute for this team later on in the season.
Steve Kerr on Jordan Bell: "He's gonna be a really good pro" pic.twitter.com/y0m1fsTblx
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) October 14, 2017
Warriors fans might not get to see as much of Bell as they would like right now, but the rookie looks as though he will be a contributor for this team at some point this season.
Poll
Who was the Warrior Wonder for their final preseason win?
This poll is closed
-
16%
Stephen Curry
(341 votes) -
0%
Klay Thompson
(11 votes) -
2%
Nick Young
(52 votes) -
71%
Jordan Bell
(1505 votes) -
0%
Zaza Pachulia
(11 votes) -
0%
David West
(2 votes) -
0%
Omri Casspi
(13 votes) -
2%
Kevon Looney
(58 votes) -
0%
Georges Niang
(15 votes) -
0%
Javale McGee
(6 votes) -
0%
Damian Jones
(6 votes) -
1%
Patrick McCaw
(41 votes) -
0%
Shaun Livingston
(3 votes) -
1%
Michael Gbinije
(37 votes)