Kerr -- Abrupt way Poole's Warriors' run came to an end 'unfortunate' - ESPN

SAN FRANCISCO — When Jordan Poole comes into Chase Center as a member of the Washington Wizards on Friday night, the Golden State Warriors will be facing someone they once thought was a key to their future.

The 28th pick in the 2020 draft who then became a crucial part of the Warriors championship run two seasons ago and earned himself a four-year, $128 million extension, Warriors coach Steve Kerr said Poole is a huge success story.

Poole's tenure couldn't have worked out any better, Kerr said, except for the way it ended.

«It's really unfortunate how it played out,» Kerr said after practice on Thursday. «You just wish that things could have ended on a more positive note and in a more positive way.»

Kerr said he doesn't think there is any resentment between Poole and the Warriors, who gave him up last June in a trade that brought Chris Paul to Golden State.

Just about two weeks before Poole signed his extension with the Warriors last October, Poole was punched by Draymond Green during training camp.

«He handled that better than 99% of people would,» Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins said, who was one of Poole's closest friends on the Warriors. «He handled it like a true professional.»

At the time, Kerr called the incident the biggest crisis he had experienced in Golden State. At the end of the season, Kerr said the team never recovered from that moment — as it left a dark cloud over the team all season, both in the locker room and on the court.

Green signed his four-year, $100 million extension with Golden State in July, a sign of their longstanding commitment to him. A few weeks later, Poole was traded to Washington.

«Given that this is his one visit to Chase this year, it's our first chance to really thank Jordan for his