Wolverines in the NBA: Jordan Poole has huge March, is becoming 'Steph Curry's stunt double'

Former Michigan Wolverines basketball guard Jordan Poole has had a ridiculous month of March for the Golden State Warriors.

Over the last several weeks, Warriors star guards Steph Curry and Klay Thompson have each missed time. The once constant in the team’s backcourt has been Poole, and he’s shined. In 16 March games, he averaged 25.4 points, 4.9 assists and 3.9 rebounds per contest. He’s scored 20 or more points in 15 straight outings.

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Poole’s emergence has gotten to the point where The Ringer‘s Seerat Sohi described him as Curry’s ‘stunt double.’

“While Poole may be getting his points like Curry does, his floaters and deep triples aren’t quite as accurate,” Sohi wrote March 30, before the former Michigan guard and his team lost to the Phoenix Suns that night. “Their percentages within the paint and midrange are virtually the same, except Poole is seven percentage points more accurate inside the restricted area.

“According to Second Spectrum, Poole is in the 76th percentile for drives per 100 possessions; Curry is in the 77th. Curry is in the 93rd percentile for handoffs, and in the 59th for points per chance; Poole is in the 99th for handoffs, and in the 50th for points per chance. In points created off isolations, Curry is in the 83rd percentile; Poole is in the 81st.”

Warriors head coach Steve Kerr has long believed in Poole, and has been impressed with how far he’s come from his rookie season in 2019-20 to having to spend a month in the G League last season to the point he’s at now.

“He’s playing with so much confidence,” Kerr said March 31. “He can create space, but has the poise to not rush his shot after he creates the space. And that’s the maturity that he’s shown here over the last couple of years as he’s come into his own.

“His rookie year, he’d create some space and just chuck it. He thought the defense was going to get out to him. Now he knows where his shots are going to come, when they’re going to come, and he takes his time.”

Here’s a look at every former Michigan basketball player in the NBA, specifically focusing on the last week of action.

Ignas Brazdeikis (Played at Michigan from 2018-19), F, Orlando Magic

The former Michigan standout tied his season high with 13 points (6-10 FG, 0-3 3PT) and added four rebounds in a 107-101 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers March 28 … Notched 10 points (4-8 FG, 2-4 3PT) and two rebounds in a 127-110 loss to the Washington Wizards March 30.

Appeared in 37 games off the bench for the 20-57 Magic, which sit last in the Eastern Conference standings … Averages 3.7 points and 1.4 rebounds per outing, while shooting 41.4 percent from the field and 29.3 percent from long range.

Trey Burke (2011-13), G, Dallas Mavericks

Saw four minutes of action and recorded one assist in a 114-100 win over the Utah Jazz March 27 … Missed the prior week in the NBA’s “health and safety protocol,” and has reentered the same protocols this week after a missed virus test.

The former Michigan point guard has played in 39 games off the bench for the 48-29 Mavericks, who are third in the West … Registering 5.3 points and 1.3 assists per contest, while shooting 39.5 percent overall and 31.3 percent from beyond the three-point arc.

Tim Hardaway Jr. (2010-13), G, Dallas Mavericks

The former Michigan guard suffered a foot injury Jan. 25 and had surgery … No timetable for the former Michigan guard’s return, which is unlikely to be this season … Started 20 of his 42 games for the 48-29 Mavericks … Averaging 14.2 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.2 assists per outing, while connecting on 39.4 percent of his overall looks and 33.6 percent of his triple tries.

Caris LeVert (2012-16), G, Cleveland Cavaliers

Posted 11 points (4-9 FG, 3-4 3PT), one rebound and one assist in a 117-104 loss to the Toronto Raptors March 24 … Registered 17 points (7-14 FG, 1-6 3PT), five rebounds and three assists in a 98-94 setback to the Chicago Bulls March 26 … Notched eight points (4-15 FG, 0-4 3PT), seven rebounds, six assists, one block and one steal in a 107-101 victory over the Orlando Magic March 28 … Recorded 32 points (11-19 FG, 3-4 3PT), six rebounds and four assists in a 120-112 loss to the Dallas Mavericks March 30.

The former Michigan guard appeared in 13 outings with four starts for the 42-34 Cavaliers, after being traded from the Indiana Pacers … Averages 13.8 points, 3.6 assists and 3.2 rebounds per contest with his new team … Averaged 18.7 points, 3.8 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game while starting 39 tilts for the Pacers before being dealt.

Isaiah Livers (2017-21), F, Detroit Pistons

The former Michigan wing missed four games due to a concussion but is off the injury report ahead of Thursday’s game against the Philadelphia 76ers … Averaging 4.8 points and 2.5 rebounds in 16.5 minutes per game in 13 contests since rejoining the NBA roster and earning a spot in the rotation.

Jordan Poole (2017-19), G, Golden State Warriors

Posting 25.4 points, 4.9 assists and 3.9 rebounds per contest during the month of March … Scored 20 or more points in 15 consecutive contests … Recorded 24 points (8-22 FG, 4-13 3PT), 10 assists and four rebounds in a 121-110 loss to the Atlanta Hawks March 25 … Registered 26 points (8-25 FG, 1-10 3PT), six rebounds and two assists in a 123-115 loss to the Washington Wizards March 27 … Tallied 25 points (7-17 FG, 3-6 3PT), five rebounds and three assists in a 123-95 setback to the Memphis Grizzlies March 28 … Exploded for 38 points (11-22 FG, 7-15 3PT), 15 of which came in the first quarter, nine rebounds and seven assists in a 107-103 loss to the Phoenix Suns March 30.

The former Michigan guard is averaging 18.2 points, 3.8 assists and 3.3 rebounds per clash, while starting 46 of his 71 appearances for the 48-29 Warriors … Shoots 45.2 percent from the field and 36.6 percent from long range — both career-highs.

Duncan Robinson (2014-18), F, Miami Heat

Put up six points (2-8 FG, 2-7 3PT) and one assist in a 111-103 loss to the New York Knicks March 25 … Did not scored but contributed one rebound in a 110-95 loss to the Brooklyn Nets March 26 … Helped get the Heat back in the winning column after four straight losses with 15 points (5-8 3PT), two rebounds and one assist in a 123-100 victory over the Sacramento Kings … Scored five points (2-5 FG, 1-4 3PT) and added one block in a 106-98 win over the Boston Celtics March 30.

The former Michigan sharpshooters has started 67 of his 74 games for the first-place Heat with a 49-28 record … Registers 11 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game, while shooting 39.8 percent from the field and 36.9 percent on three-pointers.

Nik Stauskas (2012-14), G, Boston Celtics

The former Michigan guard has played in six games for the 47-30 Celtics, who are fourth in the Eastern Conference standings, averaging 2.5 minutes per appearance … Posts 1.2 points per outing … Hasn’t played since March 23.

Franz Wagner (2019-21), F, Orlando Magic

Posted 19 points (9-21 FG, 0-3 3PT), nine rebounds and three assists in a 114-110 overtime loss to the Sacramento Kings March 26 … Put up 10 points (4-8 FG, 0-2 3PT), three rebounds and six assists in a 107-101 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers March 28 … Registered 28 points (11-20 FG, 3-3 3PT), five rebounds and two assists in a 127-110 loss to the Washington Wizards March 30.

The former Michigan wing has started all 77 contests for the 20-57 Magic … Averages 15.5 points, 4.6 rebounds and three assists per outing … Shoots 46.8 percent from the field and is hitting 35.7 percent of his three-point attempts.

Moritz Wagner (2015-18), F/C, Orlando Magic

Recorded 15 points (5-9 FG, 2-5 3PT), six rebounds and five assists in a 114-110 overtime setback to the Sacramento Kings March 26 … Registered two points (1-5 FG), five rebounds and five assists in a 107-101 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers March 28 … Tallied four points (1-5 FG) and eight rebounds in a 127-110 loss to the Washington Wizards March 30.

Started one of his 58 games for the 20-57 Magic, averaging 14.2 minutes per appearance … Averages 8.5 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.3 assists per tilt, while shooting 48.7 percent from the field and 32.2 percent from beyond the arc.