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Warriors standout Jordan Poole finalizing $140 million extension

By Callie Lawson-Freeman, Yahoo Sports

NBA: Preseason-Los Angeles Lakers at Golden State Warriors Oct 9, 2022; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (left) congratulates teammate Jordan Poole on winning last seasonÕs NBA free throw percentage championship before a preseason game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: D. Ross Cameron-USA TODAY Sports - 19208661

By Callie Lawson-Freeman, Yahoo Sports

Golden State Warriors rising star Jordan Poole was clutch in the playoffs last season, now he's secured the bag.

Poole's agents confirmed on Saturday that he is finalizing a four-year, $140 million extension with the Golden State Warriors ahead of the 2022-23 season, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

Eligible for an extension for the first time this offseason, anticipations regarding this new deal were high all summer.

Poole, 23, was in the same draft class as Miami Heat sixth-man Tyler Herro who agreed to a four-year, $130 million contract extension on Oct. 2.

This is a highlight in an inspiring story for Poole, who was one of the most improved players in the NBA last season, and was strangely not even a finalist for the award.

Now that contract negotiations are finalized, the 23-year-old can continue to build his already strong standing with the Warriors.

From spending some time in the G league and mostly coming off the bench during his first two seasons with the Warriors, Poole brought an important offering to the championship winning team last season and averaged 18.5 points, 4.0 assists and 3.4 rebounds per game.

A path forward for the Warriors

Jordan Poole was punched in an altercation with Draymond Green, who stepped away from the team indefinitely before returning Thursday. Draymond responded to speculation that the tensions were a result of both he and Poole's looming contract negotiations:

"As far as us moving forward, Jordan's a professional, I'm a professional. We have a job to do. We both have experienced a lot of winning over the course of our lives and we know what that takes. So we're going to just that, what it takes to win."

During that controversy, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr spoke highly of Poole to reporters:

"There's a reason he's in this position, about to sign a big extension, hopefully," Kerr said. "He's just tough. He's mentally tough and physically tough and ultra confident in his game."

Poole will no doubt be a focal point in the Warriors pursuit of another championship, which Klay Thompson says will "heal all wounds" between Green, Poole, and the rest of the team.

The Warriors begin their 2022-23 ring campaign on Tuesday at home against the Los Angeles Lakers.

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