Jordan Poole Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

NBA legend makes unwarranted comparison of Jordan Poole to prime James Harden

By Ethan Scott | Last updated 10/13/23

In July, Golden State traded former NBA champion Jordan Poole to the Washington Wizards, where he will begin the first year of his four-year, $128 million deal. He'll be given the keys to the franchise and become the unquestioned No. 1 option on the team.

Earlier this week, NBA legend Kevin Garnett predicted big things for Poole.

"I think Jordan Poole feels like he's been held back. That's how I thought James Harden felt when he came out of OKC," Garnett said on "Showtime Basketball." "I look for Jordan Poole to be top five in scoring this year."

Is the league ready for the Jordan Poole show? @KevinGarnett5KG has high hopes for DC’s new face of the franchise to put up big numbers this season.

Watch all episodes of #KGCertified on our YouTube. pic.twitter.com/6H0O3gJbPN
— SHOWTIME Basketball (@shobasketball) October 11, 2023

The comparison to Harden is eye-opening and largely unjustified.

Last season, Poole averaged 20.4 points, 4.5 assists and 2.7 rebounds. But he shot just 43 percent from the field and 33.6 percent from three, his lowest mark since his rookie campaign.

It's often forgotten how good Harden was coming off the bench for the Oklahoma City Thunder. As a sixth man, he was far better than Poole was as Golden State's sixth man. After Harden's 2011-12 season — the final one with the Thunder before OKC dealt him to Houston — he was awarded Sixth Man of the Year.

In that final season, Harden had a true shooting percentage of 66. (True shooting % takes into account two-point attempts, three-point attempts and free throws.) In his final season with Golden State, Poole's true shooting percentage was 57.3 percent.

Overall, Harden dominates Poole in just about every advanced statistic.

Additionally, in 30 minutes per game last season, Poole averaged 3.1 turnovers and finished fourth in total turnovers at 252. Harden averaged 2.2 turnovers in 2011-12 with the Thunder while playing more minutes per game than Poole (31.4).

For Garnett's prediction to come true, Poole must make a huge leap in offensive efficiency.

Was Poole held back in Golden State? Maybe. But is he at the 2011-12 level of Harden, who was just entering his prime? Absolutely not.

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