Jordan Poole has been one player that has continously made headlines since entering the NBA out of Michigan.
The explosive guard became a core piece in Golden State's championship run in 2020, became a centerpiece of the news following his in-practice incident with Draymond Green, and then became a center piece in a blockbuster trade that landed him with the Wizards after signing a lucrative extension with the Warriors not long before.
Throughout all the highs and lows for Poole, he's always managed to show flashes of the potential that each team has banked on in hopes that he could reach. However, his inefficient play at time has seemingly hindered him from truly taking the step to being a certified star in this league.
However, while that may be the outside perspective on Poole's unpolished game, the 25-year-old's recent comments prove that he believes he's better than people realize.
Jordan Poole believes he deserves All-Star nod
Despite the league not viewing Poole as a premiere star, the Wizards guard believes he's worthy of an All-Star nod.
"I definitely think that I'm an All-Star. I play at an All-Star level. A lot of it can be political and situational. But performance wise, I think that I'm an All-Star."Jordan Poole
It's a bold statement from Poole who currently plays for the worst team in the league representing the Eastern Conference with a 6-38 record on the season.
And while Poole's confidence in himself is encouraging, it's tough to agree that any team with a record as bad as the Wizards is worthy of an All-Star nod, especially with so many talented players suiting up for playoff contenders.
On the season, Poole is averaging 21.4 points, 4.9 assists and 3 rebounds with shooting splits of 42.4% from field goal range and 40.2% from beyond the arc. Having a career-year in nearly all areas of his game, it's understandable for the 6-foot-4 playmaker to be at an all-time high when it comes to his confidence.
However, at the end of the day, there are levels to be considered an NBA All-Star and whether Poole believes that it's political and situational, it absolutely matters with how your team is performing during the season.
Poole could be averaging 40 points per game on the season, but if the Wizards statistically have the worst-record in the league and rank among the bottom of all teams, there's no way he would win the Most Valuable Player award. That said, the same has to apply for the NBA All-Star game.