Jordan Poole

Tightly-contested crunchtime games aren’t scenarios the Washington Wizards find themselves in often, relative to the rest of the league. But, when they do, perimeter defenders can expect to be overwhelmed by one dangerous-as-any scorer in particular. Quietly among the NBA’s top 10 in terms of final minute field goals in one-score games, Jordan Poole wastes little time testing his wherewithal against Josh Green, sequencing his inbounds catch with a rapid-fire between-the-legs dribble. Able to allow the game clock to drain for a final shot if he pleased, Poole opts against it, displaying trademark confidence on a go-ahead triple. On a day defined by game-winning buckets, Poole paired his must-see highlight with box score brilliance, totaling 25 points, six rebounds, three assists, one steal, two blocks, five 3-pointers, and a +12 plus-minus. The win over the Charlotte Hornets on December 26, 2024 kickstarted a week in which Washington was competitive, stringing together two victories over four tries.