Jordan Poole is G League bound

At Tuesday’s practice, Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr announced that rookie Jordan Poole will be assigned to the team’s G League affiliate, the Santa Cruz Warriors. The assignment is not effective immediately, and Kerr didn’t know when the team would actually send Poole down Highway 17.

The future move isn’t at all surprising. Poole has had a very rough go of it lately, as he’s missed all 19 shots he’s taken over his last four games.

On Monday against the Memphis Grizzlies, guard Jacob Evans III returned to action, which appeared to bump Poole out of the rotation; the rookie earned his first career Did Not Play - Coach’s Decision. With shooting guard Damion Lee expected to return on Wednesday, Poole will be pushed even further down the bench.

So what do you do with a young player who is struggling and you can’t get minutes for? You send them to the G League, where they can play 25-35 minutes a night, further develop their skills, and build back their confidence against lesser competition.

For his part, Poole is maintaining a positive attitude and working hard. Kerr noted that the transition for Poole has been harder than it has been for fellow rookies Eric Paschall and Ky Bowman, because Poole only played two years of college ball. But the Warriors coach is encouraged by the work that Poole is putting in.

“When you’re missing shots, and you’re not playing up to your potential, it’s frustrating for anybody,” Kerr said. “He’s done a good job of competing, and playing, and working hard - he was in this gym last night for an hour after the game, getting his workout in, which is exactly what you have to do. . . He’s figuring it out.”

On the year, Poole is averaging 7.9 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game, but shooting just 24.6% from three-point range.