Even hell yes! The facial expressions alone, the flashes of brilliance passing, shooting, and dribbling, the staggering career turnaround...whatever happened last year, I'm glad he was a Warrior.
I voted #yes even though my rational brain spent a lot of time weighing pros & cons. But: home grown, did the hard work to advance from junk to major contributor, continued the work even when the team sucked, key part of a chip run. Plenty for the yes vote. And I enjoyed all the crazy faces, though maybe was getting bored of them by the end.
But I’m delighted that he’s gone. I will hold onto the good memories and hope for some JP amusement in the future. Who knows, he might even decide/learn to play D just out of spite.
Only Anderson Varejão (#18) days until training camp! What's that? You're not familiar with Anderson? Well dear Warriors fan, stop practicing your half-court shots for a minute, sit here on the bench, and let me tell you about a time before you were born when giants roamed the sidelines. Imagine having not just Anderson (6'11"), but also Bogut (7'), Ezeli (6'11"), and also Mo Speights (6'10") and James Michael McAdoo (6'9"), all on the same Warriors team. It was a time when Coach Kerr insisted on playing big men, even when it was clear that a smaller lineup was more effective, and when he would play the giant from Brazil though his best days were clearly behind him. Fans from Oakland to San Francisco would clench their fists, grit their teeth, and then scream at their TVs, "Oh why, Steve, why? Why are you so stubborn and inflexible? Will you never play a line-up without a traditional big man?" But Coach Kerr did not listen.
And so, one summer, after the Golden Warriors had been vanquished in a painful final battle by the cruel king from the East, a dejected fan happened upon a monkey's paw, and was granted one wish. He wished that he wouldn't have to watch the Warriors big men getting cooked by smaller players, and it was granted, but as always happens in these fables, the wish became twisted. Soon, all the big men faded away, Andrew, Festus, James, Mo, and even new bigs like JaVale, Zaza, Willie, and Wise, until only Looney and occasional 6'10" stretch bigs were left. The age of giants had ended, and so had Coach Kerr's use of true big men. And so today, fans from Manila to Oakland to San Francisco will clench their fists, grit their teeth, and then scream at their TVs, "Oh why, Steve, why? Why are you so stubborn and inflexible? Will you never play a line-up with a traditional big man?" But Coach Kerr still does not listen.
And remember, dear fan, if you happen to find a magic item, and you think you'd like for Draymond to control his emotions, or for Klay to stop hunting shots, or for that non-defense-playing Poole to get traded for an established veteran whom you will surely love as a Warrior at once, well, maybe think twice before making that wish.
No. He left the team under murky circumstances, was a big part of the most controversial off court moment since Spree choked PJ, and had a lousy last season after getting paid.
Because he was one of us during the best championship run of the dynasty.
Because of what Steph said: "Now that the trade is actually final, I felt like I needed to come on here and just say - JP how much I appreciated the four years, brother. You're a champion. You grew up right in front of everybody's face... I can't wait to see you blossom, big fella. I can't wait to see you shine in your own situation. Just looking forward to competing, obviously with being a fan of everything you become. Good luck to you."
and what Klay said: "It hurts to see Jordan go... That's the nature of the beast that is this business. JP was homegrown, I saw him put the work in. I saw him go 2-15 in a game, but then he would be in the dungeon after... So Jordan is forever going to be cherished in the Warriors lore, just for what he did and helped bring us back to where we needed to go, and I know he's going to do great things in Washington... That's like Steph and I's little bro."
Gonna vote a reluctant #YES, but ultimately we don't have enough information on what went down before and after the punch. Did JP really 'ask for it' to the extent that the team failed to censure Dray after the punch? Did Jordan really dog it intentionally in order to get traded to a place where he could be a starter, and hence tank the last season? We don't know, but his teammates likely do. Ideally, the decision on HWFL status should be delegated to Steph and Klay (not Dray for obvious reasons). FWIW, they did hang out with JP in the offseason for a bit, so that makes me think their votes might also lean into the YES direction.
Voting is running close on this poll... weighted results are currently 71.4% yes, with 75% needed for HWFL status and the accompanying 5% discount at the DNHQ store.
A short reminder that the article spells out carefully exactly how to comment-vote and there are too many comments to make exceptions.
#YES . . . but . . . I have to say "yes" based on my prior personal qualifications for the award. If I compare Poole to say, Otto Porter, who I was more than fine with being an HWL, I have to be consistent and say yes to Poole, who contributed significantly to a championship, and who over three years moved from a draft afterthought to a guy people have at least talked about as having NBA lead guard potential, illustrates Warrior-type qualities.
But . . . I don't feel it. I just can't see myself looking back fondly on Poole 20 years from now like I will on someone like Leandro Barbossa, Shaun Livingston, or Gary Payton. Poole never seemed quite to click to me - his defense was sporadic at best, and too often he tried to default to Curryesque skill sets he just did not have. In my feels, he tends to slide to far into Oubre' territory, and he had no real answer when the NBA figured out how to defend his primary offensive weapons. I like Poole, and hope he had tremendous success. But for whatever reason, while consistency with my personal criteria requires "Yes," my heart says "No."
Key player with some thrilling performances on the championship team. Worked his way from being someone who looked like they wouldn’t stick in the league to blossoming and dealing with huge star level expectations, yet falling short of them. With some distance from last year I think it will become clearer and less controversial. But it’s also very reasonable to take the other side, as the balance of his career happens elsewhere.
Abstain... It really depends on what went down with Draymond and the rest of the team, and unfortunately we'll never know! If we did I think this would be either an emphatic yes or a tentative no.
Honorary Warrior For Life, Jordan Poole?
#YES of course.
For his part in getting No. 4 for Steph
#YES
Even hell yes! The facial expressions alone, the flashes of brilliance passing, shooting, and dribbling, the staggering career turnaround...whatever happened last year, I'm glad he was a Warrior.
11 times Klay Thompson shocked the basketball world | Golden State Warriors: https://youtu.be/aXuNRoOf5Tk?si=XO_Jxm946gfS8gdK
Apparently, Kent Bazemore and Juan Toscano Andersons names were spotted as having been added to the Warriors locker room. Roster Spot N.14 and 15?
https://warriorswire.usatoday.com/2023/09/14/eagle-eyed-fans-spot-potential-new-warriors-addition-via-instagram-story/
I voted #yes even though my rational brain spent a lot of time weighing pros & cons. But: home grown, did the hard work to advance from junk to major contributor, continued the work even when the team sucked, key part of a chip run. Plenty for the yes vote. And I enjoyed all the crazy faces, though maybe was getting bored of them by the end.
But I’m delighted that he’s gone. I will hold onto the good memories and hope for some JP amusement in the future. Who knows, he might even decide/learn to play D just out of spite.
I spy with my little eye Moses Moody and Trayce Jackson Davis at Steph's NBA mini camp.
This feels like the longest off-season ever.
Only Anderson Varejão (#18) days until training camp! What's that? You're not familiar with Anderson? Well dear Warriors fan, stop practicing your half-court shots for a minute, sit here on the bench, and let me tell you about a time before you were born when giants roamed the sidelines. Imagine having not just Anderson (6'11"), but also Bogut (7'), Ezeli (6'11"), and also Mo Speights (6'10") and James Michael McAdoo (6'9"), all on the same Warriors team. It was a time when Coach Kerr insisted on playing big men, even when it was clear that a smaller lineup was more effective, and when he would play the giant from Brazil though his best days were clearly behind him. Fans from Oakland to San Francisco would clench their fists, grit their teeth, and then scream at their TVs, "Oh why, Steve, why? Why are you so stubborn and inflexible? Will you never play a line-up without a traditional big man?" But Coach Kerr did not listen.
And so, one summer, after the Golden Warriors had been vanquished in a painful final battle by the cruel king from the East, a dejected fan happened upon a monkey's paw, and was granted one wish. He wished that he wouldn't have to watch the Warriors big men getting cooked by smaller players, and it was granted, but as always happens in these fables, the wish became twisted. Soon, all the big men faded away, Andrew, Festus, James, Mo, and even new bigs like JaVale, Zaza, Willie, and Wise, until only Looney and occasional 6'10" stretch bigs were left. The age of giants had ended, and so had Coach Kerr's use of true big men. And so today, fans from Manila to Oakland to San Francisco will clench their fists, grit their teeth, and then scream at their TVs, "Oh why, Steve, why? Why are you so stubborn and inflexible? Will you never play a line-up with a traditional big man?" But Coach Kerr still does not listen.
Did it really happen that way? Who can say? time passes and our memories grow dim. But maybe we can see some glimpses from the age of giants of Anderson Varejão: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhzLRfmjZ3s and of a healthy Festus Ezeli: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wP8wxqU_puM
And remember, dear fan, if you happen to find a magic item, and you think you'd like for Draymond to control his emotions, or for Klay to stop hunting shots, or for that non-defense-playing Poole to get traded for an established veteran whom you will surely love as a Warrior at once, well, maybe think twice before making that wish.
Yes, he's homegrown and was here for four years and was a key part of us becoming a champion.
No. He left the team under murky circumstances, was a big part of the most controversial off court moment since Spree choked PJ, and had a lousy last season after getting paid.
#YES
Because he was one of us during the best championship run of the dynasty.
Because of what Steph said: "Now that the trade is actually final, I felt like I needed to come on here and just say - JP how much I appreciated the four years, brother. You're a champion. You grew up right in front of everybody's face... I can't wait to see you blossom, big fella. I can't wait to see you shine in your own situation. Just looking forward to competing, obviously with being a fan of everything you become. Good luck to you."
and what Klay said: "It hurts to see Jordan go... That's the nature of the beast that is this business. JP was homegrown, I saw him put the work in. I saw him go 2-15 in a game, but then he would be in the dungeon after... So Jordan is forever going to be cherished in the Warriors lore, just for what he did and helped bring us back to where we needed to go, and I know he's going to do great things in Washington... That's like Steph and I's little bro."
Gonna vote a reluctant #YES, but ultimately we don't have enough information on what went down before and after the punch. Did JP really 'ask for it' to the extent that the team failed to censure Dray after the punch? Did Jordan really dog it intentionally in order to get traded to a place where he could be a starter, and hence tank the last season? We don't know, but his teammates likely do. Ideally, the decision on HWFL status should be delegated to Steph and Klay (not Dray for obvious reasons). FWIW, they did hang out with JP in the offseason for a bit, so that makes me think their votes might also lean into the YES direction.
Voting is running close on this poll... weighted results are currently 71.4% yes, with 75% needed for HWFL status and the accompanying 5% discount at the DNHQ store.
A short reminder that the article spells out carefully exactly how to comment-vote and there are too many comments to make exceptions.
#YES . . . but . . . I have to say "yes" based on my prior personal qualifications for the award. If I compare Poole to say, Otto Porter, who I was more than fine with being an HWL, I have to be consistent and say yes to Poole, who contributed significantly to a championship, and who over three years moved from a draft afterthought to a guy people have at least talked about as having NBA lead guard potential, illustrates Warrior-type qualities.
But . . . I don't feel it. I just can't see myself looking back fondly on Poole 20 years from now like I will on someone like Leandro Barbossa, Shaun Livingston, or Gary Payton. Poole never seemed quite to click to me - his defense was sporadic at best, and too often he tried to default to Curryesque skill sets he just did not have. In my feels, he tends to slide to far into Oubre' territory, and he had no real answer when the NBA figured out how to defend his primary offensive weapons. I like Poole, and hope he had tremendous success. But for whatever reason, while consistency with my personal criteria requires "Yes," my heart says "No."
#YES
Key player with some thrilling performances on the championship team. Worked his way from being someone who looked like they wouldn’t stick in the league to blossoming and dealing with huge star level expectations, yet falling short of them. With some distance from last year I think it will become clearer and less controversial. But it’s also very reasonable to take the other side, as the balance of his career happens elsewhere.
Abstain... It really depends on what went down with Draymond and the rest of the team, and unfortunately we'll never know! If we did I think this would be either an emphatic yes or a tentative no.