SAN FRANCISCO -- One day after Klay Thompson said it wouldn't make any sense for Jordan Poole to not be named the NBA's Most Improved Player, the league gave us all a head-scratcher by not even naming the Warriors' breakout star as a finalist.
That decision prompted Draymond Green to call for a name-change to the award, once again exclaiming why Poole was worthy of winning the hardware. On Monday morning, Steve Kerr joined the Warriors brigade of being stunned by Poole's snub.
"That's shocking to me, I didn't know that," Kerr said when told of Sunday's news.
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Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant, Cleveland Cavaliers All-Star Darius Garland and San Antonio Spurs All-Star Dejounte Murray were named the three finalists. All are great players. None made as big of leap from as low of a place than Poole did.
Kerr wouldn't say which candidate he believes should be taken out, but it's clear he thinks Poole should have been one of them.
"All worthy candidates, but I think Jordan should be in there," he said.
What Kerr means to the Warriors can't be predicated by one award, which Kerr made sure to make clear when talking with reporters.
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"I know how much we value Jordan," Kerr said. "He has been a rock for us all year. So many injuries to key guys, but he and [Kevon Looney] have probably been the most consistent every-night players on our roster. Obviously very different players, but you just have to be able to rely on stability in this league and Jordan has become a stabilizer.
"He's become a guy we can count on for scoring and shot creation every night. ... We're lucky to have JP, he's been phenomenal."
Much of what Kerr said is what makes Poole so worthy of at the least being a finalist for the award. The word stability would not have been associated with the now 22-year-old during his first two seasons in the league. He was picked at the end of the first round in the 2019 NBA Draft and had to spend time in the G League in each of his first two seasons. Now, he's one of the Warriors' most vital players -- no matter what role he's asked to play.
Morant is a former No. 2 pick who won Rookie of the Year and will get a good amount of MVP votes this season after already clearly being a star last season. Garland is a former No. 5 pick who took a leap this season, but also averaged 17.4 points and 6.1 assists last season while playing in 54 games and starting in 50 of them.
Poole did play 51 games last season. He started just seven and needed the G League bubble just as much as anybody. This season, he played in 76 games, started 51 and averaged 18.5 points and 4.0 assists while having to hop back and forth between the bench and the starting lineup, keeping the Warriors afloat when they faced countless injuries.
No trophy can show what he has been worth to this team.
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The Warriors are full players who have earned some pretty notable awards. Steph Curry is a two-time MVP and was named the MVP of the All-Star Game this season. Draymond Green is a former Defensive Player of the Year, Klay Thompson is a five-time All-Star, Andrew Wiggins was a Rookie of the Year and Andre Iguodala is a former Finals MVP.
They'd all take another, or in Wiggins' case a first, championship ring over the above personal accomplishments.
Kerr knows Poole is built the same way.
"I think Jordan feels pretty valued in our organization," Kerr said. "I don't think I have to say anything. I'm sure his teammates are telling him that he got the short end of the stick on that one, but there are bigger fish to fry.
"He's all in on winning. He understands that's the main thing, but it would have been nice for him to be honored."
After already proving himself all season long, Poole introduced himself to an even bigger audience on Saturday night in the Warriors' Game 1 win over the Denver Nuggets to begin their first-round playoff series. His 30-point explosion didn't surprise the Warriors, and it soon won't be any surprise when Poole starts taking home national honors in the near future.