(Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) Jordan Poole became a key member of the Golden State Warriors during his four-year stint with the franchise. Despite averaging career-best numbers for the organization in the 2022-23 NBA season, the Warriors decided to trade Poole to the Washington Wizards in exchange for a trade package around Chris Paul earlier this offseason. Considering Poole helped the Warriors win the 2022 NBA Championship and learned from the duo of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, many expected him to flourish as the first option on the Wizards. Poole has played like a shell of himself in the 2023-24 NBA season, but his teammate Kyle Kuzma recently defended him, via ClutchPoints on Twitter. “When you’re coming from being a 3rd and 4th option… And you’re coming into a new situation where you’re more of the focal point, it’s tough sometimes because that’s a lot of responsibility,” Kuzma said. "When you're coming from being a 3rd and 4th option… And you're coming into a new situation where you're more of the focal point, it's tough sometimes because that's a lot of responsibility." Kyle Kuzma on Jordan Poole 
(via @Hoop_District)pic.twitter.com/aV8xdEvj8m — ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) November 21, 2023 It’s obvious that every player in the NBA dreams of being the first option on a franchise. But it’s not as easy as the best players in the league make it seem. After all, the attention of opponents is on that player for most of the game. Kuzma trusts Poole to ultimately find his form over the course of the season. Kuzma claims fans should understand it’s not an easy task to adjust from being a third or fourth option on a team to leading a team from the front. This season, Poole is currently averaging 16.6 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game for the Wizards. Poole’s numbers aren’t that bad, but his shooting can certainly be improved, as he’s currently shooting a mere 39.6% from the field and 28.4% from the three-point line. Due to Poole’s struggles, the Wizards currently have an abysmal record of 2-11 in the Eastern Conference. The post Kyle Kuzma Defends Jordan Poole Amid Rough Start To The Season appeared first on The Cold Wire.
Source: https://www.thecoldwire.com/kyle-kuzma- ... he-season/