Wolverines in the NBA: Jordan Poole receiving Steph Curry treatment from opposing defenses
Michigan Wolverines basketball guard Jordan Poole helped the Golden State Warriors win the NBA title last season and is off to a great start to the 2022-23 campaign.
Poole has come off the bench for the most part but made spot starts recently with injuries to the Warriors’ star-studded backcourt. He’s started seven of his 26 appearances and is averaging 27.4 points, 4.6 assists and 2.3 rebounds per game in those situations.
When the former Michigan guard does come off the bench and is on the floor without starter Steph Curry, he’s noticed different coverages from defenses this season. He typically has drawn the opponents’ best perimeter defender who picks him up around half court. In other words, he’s receiving the Curry treatment.
“How people are guarding Steph in the first unit is how they’re guarding me in the second unit,” Poole said recently, according to The Athletic. “When we’re not on the court together, I get the same coverage as he gets.”
It’s an adjustment for the former breakout player turned known commodity.
“A lot of defenses are loaded, either sending a blitz and making me get off the ball or, it’s kind of like boxes and elbows,” Poole continued. “So I’ll be at the top, and I can see everybody loaded up. I can see the first lines and the help. It’s almost like a ‘make the others beat us’ kind of situation.”
Here’s a look at how all nine former Michigan basketball players in the NBA are faring, specifically honing in on the last week of action.
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Moussa Diabate (played at Michigan from 2021-22), F, Los Angeles Clippers (two-way contract)
Recent games: Put up 4 points (1-1 FG, 2-2 FT) and 5 rebounds with 3 turnovers in a 123-96 loss to the Sacramento Kings Dec. 3 … Was called back down to the G League’s Ontario Clippers.
Season: Appeared in five NBA games, averaging 10.6 minutes per outing … Contributes 4.2 points and 3.8 rebounds per night, while shooting 63.6 percent from the field (all two-pointers).
Tim Hardaway Jr. (2010-13), G, Dallas Mavericks
Recent games: Has scored 20-plus points in four of his last five games … Put up 28 points (10-17 FG, 8-13 3PT), 7 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal in a 121-100 win over the New York Knicks Dec. 3 … Registered 17 points (6-12 FG, 5-9 3PT), 3 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal in a 130-111 victory over the Phoenix Suns Dec. 5 … Notched 29 points (7-12 FG, 6-8 3PT, 9-12 FT), 3 rebounds, 2 assists and 3 steals in a 116-115 victory over the Denver Nuggets Dec. 6.
Season: Started six of 23 games — recently being added to the starting lineup — and is averaging 13.3 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2 assists per clash, while connecting on 37.3 percent of his shots from the field and 37.4 percent of his three-point attempts for the 13-11 Mavericks … His 37.4 three-point shooting percentage ranks third on the team among players who attempt 3 or more per game.
Caleb Houstan, (2021-22), G, Orlando Magic
Recent games: Posted 8 points (3-9 FG, 2-5 3PT), 4 rebounds and 2 assists in a 121-108 loss to the Toronto Raptors Dec. 3 … Recorded 3 points (1-6 FG, 1-4 3PT) and 5 rebounds in a 109-102 setback to the Milwaukee Bucks Dec. 5 … Tallied 5 points (1-2 FG, 0-1 3PT, 3-3 FT) and 2 rebounds in a 116-111 overtime victory over the Los Angeles Clippers Dec. 7.
Season: Started 1 of his 21 games for the 6-20 Magic, who are last in the Eastern Conference … The former Michigan wing is averaging 4.2 points and 2.6 rebounds in 18.7 minutes per contest, while shooting 36.3 percent from the field, including a 35.1-percent three-point shooting clip.
Caris LeVert (2012-16), G, Cleveland Cavaliers
Recent games: Recorded 5 points (2-7 FG, 1-6 3PT), 1 rebound, 4 assists and 2 steals in a 107-96 triumph over the Orlando Magic Dec. 2 … Put up 4 points (1-4 FG, 0-1 3PT), 4 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal in a 92-81 loss to the New York Knicks Dec. 4 … Totaled 7 points (3-8 FG, 1-3 3PT), 2 rebounds, 4 assists and 1 steal in a 116-102 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers Dec. 6.
Season: The former Michigan guard has opened 14 of 21 games for the 16-9 Cavaliers, who are third in the East … Averages 30.6 minutes per game but has played less than that in each of his last three outings … Posting 11 points, 4.5 assists and 4.3 rebounds per game, while shooting 37.3 percent from the field and a career-high 36.5 percent from long range.
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Isaiah Livers (2017-21), F, Detroit Pistons
Recent games: Has missed the last three games with a right shoulder sprain but appears to be nearing a return.
Season: The former Michigan forward has opened 7 of 22 games for the 7-20 Pistons, averaging 19.5 minutes per night … Putting up 5.8 points and 2.3 rebounds per clash, while connecting on 40.4 percent of his field goals, including 35.8 percent of his three-point tries.
Jordan Poole (2017-19), G, Golden State Warriors
Recent games: Has scored 20-plus in each of his last four tilts … Put up 21 points (8-14 FG, 5-8 3PT), 5 assists, 2 rebounds and 1 steal in a 120-101 win over the Houston Rockets Dec. 3 … Recorded 23 points (10-21 FG, 2-8 3PT, 1-1 FT), 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 1 block in a 112-104 loss to the Indiana Pacers Dec. 5 … Exploded for 36 points, tying his season high, on 10-of-23 shooting from the field, 4-of-13 from three-point range and 12-of-13 from the free throw line in a 124-123 loss to the Utah Jazz Dec. 7 … Added 8 assists and 4 rebounds.
Season: Started 7 of his 26 games for the 13-13 Warriors, averaging 27.9 minutes per night … The former Michigan guard is posting 17.7 points, 4.6 assists and 2.1 rebounds a game, while shooting 43.6 percent from the field and 33.2 percent from three-point range … His 2.5 three-point makes per game rank fourth on the Warriors.
Duncan Robinson (2014-18), F, Miami Heat
Recent games: Put up 5 points (1-4 FG, 1-3 3PT, 2-2 FT), 2 rebounds and 1 assist in 15 minutes in a 116-96 loss to the Detroit Pistons Dec. 6.
Season: Appeared in 18 games for the 12-14 Heat, averaging 17.1 minutes per contest … Recording 6.1 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.2 assists per night, while shooting 35.6 percent from the field … His 31.6 three-point shooting percentage is his worst in a season since his rookie year of 2018-19, when he appeared in 15 games.
Franz Wagner (2019-21), F, Orlando Magic
Recent games: Posted 9 points (4-8 FG, 1-3 3PT), 1 rebound, 1 assist and 2 steals in a 121-108 loss to the Toronto Raptors Dec. 3 … Notched 25 points (8-13 FG, 2-6 3PT, 7-7 FT), 6 rebounds and 2 assists in a 109-102 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks Dec. 5 … Put up 15 points (6-19 FG, 1-6 3PT, 2-3 FT), 6 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal in a 116-111 overtime victory over the Los Angeles Clippers Dec. 7.
Season: The former Michigan wing has started all 26 games for the 6-20 Magic, averaging 33.3 minutes per night … He’s second on the team with 19.1 points per game, adding 4.2 rebounds (tied seventh) and 3.7 assists (tied fourth) … Shooting 55.3 percent on twos and 31.8 percent on threes.
Moritz Wagner (2015-18), F/C, Orlando Magic
Recent games: Recorded 5 points (2-7 FG, 0-1 3PT, 1-2 FT), 4 rebounds, 1 block and 1 steal in a 121-108 loss to the Toronto Raptors Dec. 3 … Posted 19 points (7-10 FG, 0-2 3PT, 5-5 FT), 12 rebounds, 4 assists and 1 steal in a 109-102 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks Dec. 5 … Poured in 20 points (7-13 FG, 1-4 3PT, 5-5 FT), 13 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals and 1 block for his second-consecutive double-double in a 116-111 overtime win over the Los Angeles Clippers Dec. 7.
Season: Missed the beginning of the season with an ankle injury and made his debut Nov. 25 … Opened four of his eight games for the 6-20 Magic, averaging 25.6 minutes per game … Posting career bests in points (11.3), rebounds (7.5) and assists (2.6) per game, while shooting a team-high 71.1 percent on two-pointers and 15.4 percent on threes.
Michigan players in the G League
• Eli Brooks, Fort Wayne Mad Ants
• Chaundee Brown Jr., San Antonio Spurs/Austin Spurs (Two-Way Contract)
• Charles Matthews, Windy City Bulls
• Zavier Simpson, Lakeland Magic
• D.J. Wilson, Oklahoma City Blue
