Jordan Poole has been on an impressive run recently, scoring over 40 points in two games within the past few days. The Washington Wizards’ star put up 42 points (15-29 FG, 6-15 3 PT) in a victory against the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday night, building momentum as the All-Star break approaches. Poole was full of confidence in the locker room after the game.

When asked about the impact of his 40-plus point performances on his confidence, Poole credited his role and the support from Coach BK. “A lot of it is just my role… coach BK put me in a position to be aggressive… I feel like I’m extremely hard to stop out there,” Poole shared. He smiled and continued, “That’s why they gotta send two or three people at me pretty consistently. Just try to be aggressive. Once shots start going in, we start getting easy shots, and it really helps our team. I’m just trying to help build confidence in these other guys as well.”

Poole’s combination of off-the-dribble shooting and quick drives makes him nearly impossible to guard one-on-one. Additionally, his playmaking ability helps Washington’s younger players develop. In the 134-130 overtime loss to the Pacers (30-23), Poole tallied five assists in 40 minutes, ranking third on the team. This number aligns closely with his season average of 4.9 assists per game, which leads the Wizards (9-45) and is a career-high.

This season has been a breakthrough for Poole, as he has excelled in a leadership role with Washington. After starting as a part-time player with the Golden State Warriors and contributing to their 2022 championship, he was traded to Washington in 2023. Poole experienced a rocky start in his first season with the Wizards, even being benched at times. However, this year, he has fully embraced the leadership role and thrived.